Geopacific Resources, which is earning into 51% of the project from Kula Gold, said the aim of the drillout was to convert a portion of the 800,000 ounces of the inferred resources into reserves.

Geopacific managing director Ron Heeks said his executive team would be on Woodlark this week to support the drill programme and meet government ministers on the island.

Woodlark’s resource is 45.1 million tonnes at 1.5 grams per tonne for 2.12moz, including 26.7Mt for 1.32moz of reserve and 800,000 of inferred resource.