Article Summary:
In this article, you will learn about the latest multi-million dollar exploration efforts at the Pani Gold Project in Gorontalo, Indonesia. We break down PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk’s ambitious 3,600-meter deep drilling program and how it aims to expand an already massive 7-million-ounce gold resource. You will also discover the company's broader exploration timeline for 2026, including new drilling sites and advanced geophysical surveys.
LANGGAMPOS.COM - Indonesia has long been recognized as a global powerhouse for mineral wealth, but its mining sector is far from reaching its peak.
LANGGAMPOS.COM - Indonesia has long been recognized as a global powerhouse for mineral wealth, but its mining sector is far from reaching its peak.
In a major move that underscores the country's massive gold potential, PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk (EMAS)—a subsidiary of PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk—has officially launched an aggressive new deep-drilling campaign.
By diving thousands of meters beneath the surface, the company is looking to unlock and expand what is already shaping up to be one of the region's most significant gold deposits.
By diving thousands of meters beneath the surface, the company is looking to unlock and expand what is already shaping up to be one of the region's most significant gold deposits.
With millions of ounces already on the books, this new phase of exploration could transform the Pani Gold Project into a generational asset.
Going Deep: The 3,600-Meter Drilling Program
The headline of Merdeka’s latest update is the commencement of a highly targeted diamond deep drilling program. The company is pushing its drill rigs down to a staggering depth of 3,600 meters.
This isn't just a shot in the dark. Previous exploration data strongly indicated that the gold mineralization doesn't stop where past drilling projects left off. Instead, the gold patterns suggest that the veins run much deeper, bleeding outside the boundaries of the previously mapped zones. The 3,600-meter program is specifically engineered to test this theory and mathematically expand the asset's overall value.
Testing the Depth of Pani's Mineralization
According to Boyke Abidin, the President Director of Merdeka Gold Resources, the project is launching with a highly structured initial phase. Mining engineers have designed six strategic drill holes to test the continuity of the gold deep underground.
Currently, one specialized drill rig is fully operational on-site, with a second rig scheduled to join the effort next month. Abidin noted that as gold production begins at Pani, the company is in a prime strategic position to aggressively test these deeper zones. If these initial six holes return positive results, Merdeka is fully prepared to scale up the drilling operation even further.
The Current Scale of the Pani Gold Project
To understand why this deep exploration matters, you have to look at the massive foundation the company is already working with. Even before this new deep-drilling push, the Pani Gold Project boasted an estimated mineral resource of 291.5 million tons of ore. With an average gold grade of 0.75 grams per ton (g/t), the site holds roughly 7 million ounces of gold.
What makes this even more remarkable is the spatial potential. This 7-million-ounce estimate is derived from an exploration area covering just 135 hectares. To put that in perspective, Merdeka holds the rights to a massive 14,670-hectare concession zone in the region. The mine is located in the Marisa District, Pohuwato Regency, within the Gorontalo Province of Sulawesi. With only a fraction of the land thoroughly tested, the room for growth is staggering.
Expanding Beyond Pani: Kolokoa and Lone Pine Targets
Merdeka’s 2026 ambitions aren't limited to the main Pani site. The company is running a multi-pronged exploration strategy across its concession, with significant progress already logged at the nearby Kolokoa target.
At Kolokoa, the team recently wrapped up an initial drilling phase consisting of 54 drill holes totaling 11,701.6 meters. Taking just six months and costing roughly $2.4 million USD, this fast-tracked project successfully identified an exploration target between 20 million and 40 million tons of ore, with gold grades averaging 0.3 to 0.5 g/t. Merdeka is currently finalizing its maiden mineral resource estimate for Kolokoa, which is slated for release in the second quarter of 2026.
Looking ahead to the back half of the year, the company plans to keep the momentum going:
Advanced Tech and International Mining Standards
As a publicly-traded heavyweight, Merdeka is keeping its data tightly managed. The upcoming influx of geological data from the deep drilling, Kolokoa, and Lone Pine will undergo rigorous quality control.
The company has stated that all future resource updates will be thoroughly vetted and reported in strict compliance with both the JORC Code 2012 (the Australian standard for reporting exploration results) and Indonesia's native KCMI 2017 code. This ensures that global investors and local stakeholders receive transparent, reliable, and verified data as the true scale of the Gorontalo asset is revealed.
Conclusion
The Pani Gold Project is rapidly cementing its status as a foundational asset for Indonesia’s mining future. By committing to an ambitious 3,600-meter deep drilling program, PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk is signaling immense confidence in the site’s unseen potential.
Going Deep: The 3,600-Meter Drilling Program
The headline of Merdeka’s latest update is the commencement of a highly targeted diamond deep drilling program. The company is pushing its drill rigs down to a staggering depth of 3,600 meters.
This isn't just a shot in the dark. Previous exploration data strongly indicated that the gold mineralization doesn't stop where past drilling projects left off. Instead, the gold patterns suggest that the veins run much deeper, bleeding outside the boundaries of the previously mapped zones. The 3,600-meter program is specifically engineered to test this theory and mathematically expand the asset's overall value.
Testing the Depth of Pani's Mineralization
According to Boyke Abidin, the President Director of Merdeka Gold Resources, the project is launching with a highly structured initial phase. Mining engineers have designed six strategic drill holes to test the continuity of the gold deep underground.
Currently, one specialized drill rig is fully operational on-site, with a second rig scheduled to join the effort next month. Abidin noted that as gold production begins at Pani, the company is in a prime strategic position to aggressively test these deeper zones. If these initial six holes return positive results, Merdeka is fully prepared to scale up the drilling operation even further.
The Current Scale of the Pani Gold Project
To understand why this deep exploration matters, you have to look at the massive foundation the company is already working with. Even before this new deep-drilling push, the Pani Gold Project boasted an estimated mineral resource of 291.5 million tons of ore. With an average gold grade of 0.75 grams per ton (g/t), the site holds roughly 7 million ounces of gold.
What makes this even more remarkable is the spatial potential. This 7-million-ounce estimate is derived from an exploration area covering just 135 hectares. To put that in perspective, Merdeka holds the rights to a massive 14,670-hectare concession zone in the region. The mine is located in the Marisa District, Pohuwato Regency, within the Gorontalo Province of Sulawesi. With only a fraction of the land thoroughly tested, the room for growth is staggering.
Expanding Beyond Pani: Kolokoa and Lone Pine Targets
Merdeka’s 2026 ambitions aren't limited to the main Pani site. The company is running a multi-pronged exploration strategy across its concession, with significant progress already logged at the nearby Kolokoa target.
At Kolokoa, the team recently wrapped up an initial drilling phase consisting of 54 drill holes totaling 11,701.6 meters. Taking just six months and costing roughly $2.4 million USD, this fast-tracked project successfully identified an exploration target between 20 million and 40 million tons of ore, with gold grades averaging 0.3 to 0.5 g/t. Merdeka is currently finalizing its maiden mineral resource estimate for Kolokoa, which is slated for release in the second quarter of 2026.
Looking ahead to the back half of the year, the company plans to keep the momentum going:
- Lone Pine Target: Exploration drilling is scheduled to begin here in the second half of 2026.
- Geophysical Surveys: In June and July of 2026, the company will deploy advanced airborne and ground tech, including Mobile Magnetotelluric surveys and helicopter-based magnetic mapping to peer through the terrain.
Advanced Tech and International Mining Standards
As a publicly-traded heavyweight, Merdeka is keeping its data tightly managed. The upcoming influx of geological data from the deep drilling, Kolokoa, and Lone Pine will undergo rigorous quality control.
The company has stated that all future resource updates will be thoroughly vetted and reported in strict compliance with both the JORC Code 2012 (the Australian standard for reporting exploration results) and Indonesia's native KCMI 2017 code. This ensures that global investors and local stakeholders receive transparent, reliable, and verified data as the true scale of the Gorontalo asset is revealed.
Conclusion
The Pani Gold Project is rapidly cementing its status as a foundational asset for Indonesia’s mining future. By committing to an ambitious 3,600-meter deep drilling program, PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk is signaling immense confidence in the site’s unseen potential.
With 7 million ounces already verified from just a tiny fraction of their total land concession, the upcoming data from their deep-core exploration and advanced airborne surveys could very well rewrite the scale of this Indonesian gold rush. (*)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where is the Pani Gold Project located?
The mine is located in the Marisa District, Pohuwato Regency, within the Gorontalo Province on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where is the Pani Gold Project located?
The mine is located in the Marisa District, Pohuwato Regency, within the Gorontalo Province on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia.
How much gold is currently estimated at the Pani mine?
As of mid-2026, the project has an estimated mineral resource of roughly 7 million ounces of gold, contained within 291.5 million tons of ore grading at an average of 0.75 grams per ton.
What is the purpose of the 3,600-meter drilling program?
The program uses deep diamond drilling to test whether gold mineralization continues far below the current mine boundaries. Positive results will allow the company to officially increase its total estimated gold resources.
What other areas are being explored nearby?
In addition to the main Pani site, PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk is actively exploring the Kolokoa target (with a resource estimate coming in Q2 2026) and plans to begin drilling the Lone Pine target later in 2026.
As of mid-2026, the project has an estimated mineral resource of roughly 7 million ounces of gold, contained within 291.5 million tons of ore grading at an average of 0.75 grams per ton.
What is the purpose of the 3,600-meter drilling program?
The program uses deep diamond drilling to test whether gold mineralization continues far below the current mine boundaries. Positive results will allow the company to officially increase its total estimated gold resources.
What other areas are being explored nearby?
In addition to the main Pani site, PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk is actively exploring the Kolokoa target (with a resource estimate coming in Q2 2026) and plans to begin drilling the Lone Pine target later in 2026.
(*)
