Rua Gold Inc. released a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for its Auld Creek gold-antimony project located in New Zealand [1, 2].
The project arrives as the U.S. designates antimony as a critical mineral and China tightens export controls on the resource [1, 4]. This shift in global supply chains, combined with surging gold prices, increases the strategic value of Western-based mining operations.
According to the assessment effective April 25, 2026 [7], the project's base-case after-tax net present value (NPV) is US$42 million at a 5% discount rate [3]. The base-case internal rate of return is 17% [5].
Economic upside is significant given current market conditions. With spot gold prices exceeding US$4,500 per ounce [1], the spot-gold case NPV rises to US$113 million [4], with an internal rate of return of 36% [6].
To further define the resource, the company has a 19,000-metre drill program already underway [2]. Rua Gold is also utilizing a fast-track permitting pathway provided by the New Zealand government to accelerate development [5].
The company has now entered the pre-feasibility study workstream [5]. Rua Gold said it targets the completion of this study by the fourth quarter of 2026 [8].
“Spot gold prices exceeding US$4,500 per ounce”
The Auld Creek project represents a strategic pivot for Western mineral security. By combining a precious metal like gold with antimony, a critical component for defense and industrial applications, Rua Gold is positioning itself to benefit from both a commodity bull market and geopolitical efforts to decouple critical mineral supply chains from China.
