Australian mining company Aguia Resources has announced a significant leadership change, with Tim Hosking taking the helm as Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. The appointment follows the resignation of William Howe as Managing Director and CEO.
The transition comes at a critical juncture for the multi-commodity explorer, with its Brazilian phosphate operations advancing toward first production in early 2026 while efforts accelerate to revitalise the company's gold assets in Colombia.
Seasoned Leader Takes Charge
Tim Hosking brings substantial experience to the role, having joined Aguia as Brazil Country Manager in early 2024. His appointment signals continuity in the company's strategic direction, particularly for its phosphate projects in Rio Grande do Sul.
With over two decades in executive and project management roles, including fifteen years operating in South America across Brazil and Peru, Hosking possesses deep regional expertise. His previous twelve-year tenure as South American General Manager at Karoon Energy saw him oversee a major offshore oil field acquisition and its subsequent transition to production.
More recently, Hosking served as Country Manager for Glenfarne Group, a US-based energy transition firm, where he handled investor relations, government stakeholder engagement, and full-country operations.
Phosphate Operations Gain Momentum
Under Hosking's leadership as Brazil Country Manager, Aguia achieved several key milestones for its phosphate projects. These include securing a long-term lease with Grupo Dagoberto Barcelos to manufacture Pampafos fertiliser and obtaining favourable financing from a Brazilian development bank.
The company has advanced mine planning at the Tres Estradas phosphate deposit while securing multiple offtake agreements. Recent field trials have demonstrated Pampafos' strong agronomic performance, delivering yields exceeding eight tonnes per hectare of dry matter in ryegrass at application rates of 200kg/ha of phosphorus pentoxide.
This performance is particularly significant for southern Brazil's import-reliant agricultural heartland, positioning Aguia's product as an attractive local alternative.
Gold Assets Show Promise
In his expanded role as CEO, Hosking will maintain oversight of the Brazilian phosphate operations while assuming responsibility for the Santa Barbara gold project in Colombia's prolific Serranía de San Lucas gold belt.
The Santa Barbara project, acquired in mid-2024 through a takeover of Andean Mining, features high-grade mesothermal veins. Underground sampling has returned impressive average grades of 38.91g/t gold over extensive strike distances, with widths reaching 0.6 metres.
A 30 tonne per day pilot plant has processed 500 tonnes with recoveries around 24g/t gold. Recent upgrades, including a Merrill-Crowe circuit and expanded leaching capacity, aim to increase processing to 50 tonnes per day by mid-2025.
Hosking has already implemented cost reduction measures at Santa Barbara, including workforce scaling and operational streamlining. Doré bar production is currently underway for refining in Medellín, Colombia.
The appointment of a new Colombian management team specialising in narrow-vein mining has boosted efficiency since October, resulting in reduced ore dilution, higher feed grades above 10g/t gold, and improved plant recovery rates.
With Aguia's total 108Mt JORC phosphate resource across two locations and strategic Colombian gold holdings, the company appears well-positioned for dual-commodity growth under Hosking's leadership, supported by Executive Chairman Warrick Grigor's ongoing corporate oversight.
