** Shares of Western Gold Resources WGR.AX rise 47.8% to A$0.068, their highest level since Jan. 30, 2023

** Gold explorer announces that SSH Group SSH.AX has been selected as its preferred mining contractor for its Gold Duke project in Western Australia

** Says appointment will only become binding on execution of master service agreement; will progress negotiations to reach agreement on commercial terms

** Says SSH Group has proposed a capital facility under a deferred payment arrangement to support WGR's cash flow as it begins operations at the project

** 1.9 mln shares change hands, 4.6 times the 30-day average of 408,239

** WGR rose as much as 50% earlier in the day, marking its biggest intraday gain since Sept. 25, 2024

(Reporting by Manasi Dasa Sundeep in Bengaluru)

((Manasi.DasaSundeep@thomsonreuters.com;))