Hillgrove Resources halfway to reaching intended copper plant run rate at Kanmantoo
Australia's newest copper producer Hillgrove Resources has achieved a run rate of 1.8-million tonnes a year during June at its flagship Kanmantoo copper mine, in South Australia.
This is in line with the company's ramp-up plan, with mining and milling performance continuing to strengthen to reach a 3.6 million tonnes a year run rate.
"Reaching the 1.8-million tonnes a year run rate is a significant milestone and showcases the team's ability to execute consistently against plan," says Hillgrove CEO and MD Bob Fulker.
Hillgrove also advises that a final investment decision on Stage 2 of the Emily Star project is expected in the September quarter, which is earlier than expected, supported by ongoing drilling, geotechnical and financial assessment activities.
Fulker comments the company now has sufficient information to act and its disciplined, risk-based approach enables the company to move early, incorporate new data as it becomes available and maintain development momentum of Emily Star.
"Our focus remains on validating the technical and economic assessment so we can confidently advance the next phase of growth," he states.
Emily Star's resource feed into the Kanmantoo processing plant is intended to increase overall mining rates and lower unit costs by using existing plant capacity without massive capital expenditure.
