Estrella shares surge 15.02% premarket after starting Ira Miri manganese bulk sample extraction for market appraisal.

Estrella Resources (ASX:ESR) surged 15.02% in premarket trading following the commencement of bulk sample extraction at its Ira Miri manganese project in Timor-Leste. The initiative, involving 30,000 tonnes of high-grade manganese ore, marks a strategic milestone as the first major mineral bulk extraction under Timor-Leste’s modern mining code. The move aims to facilitate export testing, strengthen partnerships with international buyers, and validate the project’s commercial viability. Operations, led by local contractors with extensive equipment, are advancing toward manganese-bearing horizons, with ore exposure imminent. The company highlighted the project’s potential to generate royalties for both Estrella and the Timor-Leste government, while logistics for transporting material to the Lautem port are already outlined. These developments signal progress in establishing a critical minerals supply chain, aligning with the stock’s sharp premarket rally.