Empire Metals Ltd (AIM: EEE, OTCQB: EPMLF) has outlined an ambitious 12-month strategy as it advances the commercialisation of its flagship Pitfield project in Western Australia, now recognised as the world’s largest undeveloped titanium deposit.
The company aims to deliver a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate, complete process design work, and initiate mining studies in 2025, laying the groundwork for a preliminary economic assessment.
Highlights
· Pitfield Project confirmed as the largest titanium discovery globally: JORC Exploration Target* of 26.4-32.2 billion tonnes at 4.5-5.5% TiO₂.
· Heightened focus on strategic significance of titanium: demand for titanium is accelerating globally due to its critical role in aerospace, defence, and pigment markets.
· Breakthrough Discovery in 2024: Identification of near-surface saprolite zones rich in high-grade anatase and rutile (>95% TiO₂) offers the potential for a fast-tracked, high-margin development phase.
· Strong Metallurgical Results: Early testwork yielded a 91.7% TiO₂ product using conventional methods-indicating low-impact, high-purity feedstock potential without smelting.
· Strengthened Technical Team and Board: New hires across process, environmental, and commercial functions, plus titanium industry experts, are accelerating development progress.
· Strong Cash Position: Cash balance of £7 million as of 30 May 2025 supports ongoing ambitious development plans throughout 2025.
· Clear Near-Term Milestones: Upcoming objectives include delivering a maiden MRE, finalising process design and advancing mine studies as Pitfield moves towards commercialisation.
Managing director Shaun Bunn has described the year ahead as “transformative,” with Empire Metals increasingly viewing its flagship Pitfield project as a “once-in-a-generation discovery.”
The company has outlined a JORC Exploration Target of 26.4 to 32.2 billion tonnes grading between 4.5% and 5.5% titanium dioxide (TiO₂), underlining the vast scale and consistency of the deposit. A key breakthrough in 2024 was the identification of high-grade, near-surface saprolite zones rich in naturally clean rutile and anatase—minerals containing over 95% TiO₂ and prized in pigment and aerospace markets for their purity and ease of processing.
Initial metallurgical testing produced a 91.7% TiO₂ concentrate using conventional techniques, avoiding the need for energy-intensive smelting. This supports Empire’s vision of a high-margin, low-impact operation capable of delivering a rutile-equivalent or pigment-grade product from a single integrated site.
Titanium’s strategic importance continues to grow, given its use in defence, aerospace, and industrial applications. With global supply chains under pressure, Pitfield’s scale, metallurgy, and location position it strongly to meet future demand. Titanium is officially classified as a critical mineral by the governments of Australia, the US, and the EU.
To accelerate progress, Empire raised £4.5 million in May 2025, boosting its cash reserves to £7 million. The funding will support expanded drilling, bulk testing, and technical work, including the production of samples for prospective offtake partners.
The company also strengthened its leadership and technical teams over the year, adding expertise in processing, environmental oversight, and corporate strategy. Despite reporting a full-year loss of £4.1 million—driven by increased project investment and the write-down of its Eclipse gold asset—Bunn said each milestone had further de-risked Pitfield.
“Our conviction in the scale, quality, and strategic importance of this project has only grown,” he said, calling 2025 a “pivotal year as we move ever closer to development.”
