Mesco Gold has established drilling and exploration resources at the Phum Syrang prospect in Ratanakkiri province, targeting extraction by late 2014, three to six months ahead of schedule, according to a statement released by Angkor Gold, which holds the land concession.

The statement said Mesco had completed a resource estimate at the prospect and confirmed its economic viability.

Asked about the intention to extract from the site, Angkor Gold Cambodia country manager John-Paul Dau said: “Now they are in the exploration stage; they still have some more drilling to complete before they get to that point.

“Down the road, that is certainly our goal.”

Cambodian Association of Mining and Exploration Companies president Richard Stanger said Phum Syrang was one of Angkor Gold’s more advanced projects.

“As soon as the document was ready to go, they (Mesco Gold) were into the field,” Stanger said.