Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO, OTCQX: LOMLF) is progressing its Tuvatu Gold Mine in Fiji with a recently completed mine ventilation upgrade that enhances underground development capacity and supports higher production levels. The company also released preliminary gold production figures for the first quarter of 2025, reflecting operational challenges but underlying growth compared to last year.
A key infrastructure milestone has been reached with the completion of the raise bore project and primary ventilation circuit upgrade at Tuvatu. This upgrade has doubled airflow speed at the main portal, significantly improving underground working conditions and allowing mining to extend to deeper, higher-grade zones previously inaccessible due to ventilation constraints.
With sufficient airflow now established, development is advancing into the high-grade Zone 500 feeder zone, where recent drilling returned impressive intercepts such as 75.9 meters grading 20.86 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 54.9 meters at 12.22 g/t gold. The improved ventilation supports the expansion of mineralized headings and new underground levels, accelerating mine development ahead of the planned mill expansion to 600-700 tonnes per day (TPD) anticipated in 2026.
Currently, the operation is running a 300 TPD pilot plant phase, with infrastructure upgrades like this ventilation project laying the groundwork for the next phase. The company has set a new record with 13 active headings under development at Tuvatu, a number expected to grow as additional mining equipment arrives in Fiji.
Alongside ventilation improvements, Lion One is advancing its first shrinkage stope on the Ura1 lode, a zone known for bonanza-grade gold results, including a drill intercept of 142.66 g/t gold over 2.2 meters. The stope is designed to be approximately 100 meters long, 30 meters tall, and 1.5 meters wide, aiming to minimize dilution and maximize the grade of ore delivered to the mill.
Sampling during development has confirmed the continuity and high grade of the Ura1 lode. The stope is expected to come online in May and June 2025 and will be the first in a series of such stopes planned for Tuvatu, enhancing the mine’s production profile.
For the quarter ending March 31, 2025, Lion One reported recovering 3,555 ounces of gold, milled from 27,841 tonnes of ore at an average head grade of 4.9 g/t and an 80.4% recovery rate. This represents a 155% increase compared to the same quarter in 2024, when 1,394 ounces were produced during the processing plant’s commissioning phase.
However, production declined from the 4,300 ounces recovered in the previous quarter ending December 31, 2024. The reduction was primarily due to increased downtime from both scheduled and unscheduled mill maintenance in January and February, including a six-day planned shutdown for mill liner and pinion replacements. Additionally, heavy rains during these months reduced mill throughput from the typical 340 TPD average to around 280 TPD.
Production normalized in March after maintenance and weather-related disruptions were addressed. The company is implementing mill modifications to improve water management and reduce the impact of seasonal heavy rains on operations.
Lion One maintains rigorous quality assurance and quality control protocols, operating its own geochemical assay laboratory and diamond drill rigs. Samples undergo fire assay with AA finish and gravimetric re-analysis for high-grade results. The company also sends duplicates to ALS Global Laboratories in Australia for independent verification.
Exploration continues across the Navilawa Caldera, where the Tuvatu project is located, with multiple mineralized zones and prospective targets under license.
Lion One Metals’ flagship asset is the 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji, which includes the high-grade underground gold deposit, a pilot processing plant, and an assay laboratory. The company’s focus is on expanding production capacity and advancing exploration within the Navilawa Caldera. The recent ventilation upgrade and ongoing development activities at Tuvatu position Lion One Metals to increase underground mining efficiency and gold output as it moves toward scaling operations in 2026.
