Kalgoorlie-focused explorer Carrick Gold says it is on the path to production in 2012, after appointing former North Queensland Metals boss John McKinstrey as chief executive.
Carrick Gold chairman Laurence Freedman said Mr McKinstrey's skills developed over 25 years in the mining industry would be crucial to Carrick's transformation from explorer to producer.
"Carrick Gold has recently undergone substantial changes following my appointment and that of international resource industry investment banker, Mr Robert Schuitema," Mr Freedman said.
"More recently there have been a number of notable changes to the share register, including two
separate Chinese investment groups making significant investments in Carrick Gold.
"The board has prioritised moving toward production and is fully focused on corporate governance,
implementing management controls and transparency in reporting.
"The company is uniquely positioned as it has full ownership of all its tenements and sufficient funding to enable both exploration and development.
"This allows us to control our own destiny and underpins my confidence in our future prospects."
Mr Freedman said Carrick had $18 million in cash and no debt while it continues exploration programs at tenements north-east of Kalgoorlie.
""Carrick Gold remains focused on its vision to deliver exceptional shareholder returns through the discovery, delineation and development of mineable precious metals."
"We have a major exploration program planned for 2011 with the aim of moving towards achieving
production in the 2012 financial year."
