UK-based exploration and development company W Resources has secured a two-year extension for its licence of the Tarouca project in Portugal. 

Approval for the extension was granted by the Portuguese Secretary of State for Energy under the Ministry for the Economy and will expire on 23 March 2019. 

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The company intends to use the extension to undertake a 15 hole/1,500m reverse circulation drilling campaign in order to consolidate previously completed exploration programmes. 

W Resources chairman Michael Masterman said: "Whilst the development focus is on La Parrilla in Spain and Régua in Portugal, the drilling campaign at Tarouca will help us to further delineate the resource with a view to increasing our overall tungsten resource and production base. 

"Tarouca is 20km from Re´gua and has the potential to enhance and expand the Re´gua development." 

"Tarouca is 20km from Re´gua and has the potential to enhance and expand the Re´gua development."

Based on trench sampling conducted at the Tarouca project in 2015, the potential for high-grade tungsten was identified with 15 out of 126 samples exceeding 0.5% WO3, including 0.8m at 11.4% WO3 (TTR063). 

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The company owns the project through its wholly owned subsidiary Iberian Resources Portugal (IRP). It noted that the sampling, along with the 15 holes drilled in 2014, determines an exploration target in the licence's north-eastern area. 

Covering 48km², the Tarouca exploration licence includes the former Tarouca mines and numerous tungsten and tin deposits.  

Located 400km north of Lisbon and 140km east of Porto, the project was acquired by W Resources in 2012. 

Mining Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Mining Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact

Excellence in Action
Dual-award winner in the 2025 Mining Technology Excellence Awards, Propeller is redefining geospatial intelligence and safety in mining. Explore how its AeroPoints and DirtMate solutions deliver survey-grade mapping, live haul metrics, and safer, more efficient operations across mines and quarries worldwide.

Discover the Impact