ECR Minerals (ECR) has appointed Mike McRae-Williams as Operations Manager for Australia as its Maddens project nears production.
McRae-Williams joins following ECR’s acquisition of Paleogold, where he was Exploration and Production Director. He brings ~35 years of mining experience and detailed knowledge of the projects acquired through Paleogold.
He has worked closely with the Maddens Flat Group of Mines and has particular experience with the Maddens Underground Mine, processing infrastructure and operating team. ECR has a 50% interest in the Maddens Flat Group of Mines.
McRae-Williams has previously contributed to upgrades at Maddens and remains involved in preparing and optimising the processing circuit. ECR is also assessing opportunities across the wider group, including the Brothers and other historic workings.
The company said his processing, metallurgical, underground and alluvial experience would support increased activity across the Maddens Flat portfolio.
McRae-Williams also has detailed knowledge of ECR’s 20%-owned Salt Bush Gold Project in South Australia, including the proposed work programme covering trenching, systematic sampling and metallurgical test work.
He holds an MSc from the University of Melbourne and has experience spanning project management, metallurgical assessment, process plant design, construction, commissioning and operations. His career includes gold processing operations from underground mine treatment plants to large-scale tailings retreatment projects.
ECR Chairman Nick Tulloch said: "Mike joins ECR at an important moment. As previously announced, Maddens is approaching its production phase and our priority is increasingly about operational execution on the ground.
"Few people know Maddens and the wider Paleogold portfolio as well as Mike. He has worked closely with the project and its processing infrastructure for several years and brings exactly the combination of practical mining, metallurgy and plant experience that we need as activity increases.
"Importantly, his skillset will be invaluable across the wider Maddens Flat Group of Mines, not just at the Maddens Underground Mine. As previously announced, we are already evaluating additional opportunities across the Brothers and the other historic workings, and Mike's knowledge of both hard-rock and alluvial operations gives us considerable flexibility as we seek to advance those projects.”
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The appointment adds operational depth as Maddens moves closer to production, while McRae-Williams’ broader project knowledge should help ECR advance opportunities across its Australian portfolio.