Source:
The National, Friday, May 20, 2011

THE Frieda River project, a gold and copper mine developed by Xstrata Mining  Ltd and Highlands Pacific Ltd, is estimated to have more than 11 million tonnes  of copper and 18 million ounces of gold in its Nena, Horse/Ivaal/Trukai (HIT)  and Koki deposits.
The project, currently undergoing a bankable feasibility  study (BFS) carried out by Xstrata, when in full production will put Frieda on  the map as one of the world’s top 15 copper mines.
Highlands Pacific managing  director John Gooding said yesterday that the production life of Frieda could be  up to 20-30 years, with the first eight years producing 250,000 tonnes per annum  of copper and 380,000 ounces per annum of gold.
“If you look at its second  year of operation, on or about the year 2018 on current schedules, Frieda will  produce about 320,000 tonnes of copper and a massive 580,000 ounces of  gold.
“This would place it in the top 10 if in production today,” he  explained.
Gooding pointed out that Frieda has in-ground copper and gold  resource potential for many decades of production.
“To put the current Frieda  resource in context, that is about double the current inventory at the fabulous  Wafi-Golpu project which stock market analysts have placed valuations on in the  billions of dollars,” he told shareholders at the annual general  meeting.
Frieda River project, located between the East and West Sepik  provinces, is 81.82% owned by Xstrata who are funding its BFS, and by Highlands  Pacific (18.18%).
Gooding said the other exploration project for Highlands  Pacific on Star mountains has also reported significant copper gold  intersections from its drilling programme.