Paulsens Facility Achieves 92% Gold Recovery, Pours 39kg in Commissioning Phase

Commissioning Milestones at Paulsens

Black Cat Syndicate Limited (ASX: BC8) has provided a robust update on the progress of its 100%-owned Paulsens Gold Operation, located 180km west of Paraburdoo in Western Australia. The company has successfully commissioned the processing facility, including the critical elution circuit, and poured its first gold from the newly converted carbon-in-leach (CIL) circuit. To date, approximately 39 kilograms of gold bars have been produced, with the operation transitioning to weekly gold pours.

The commissioning phase has been marked by strong operational discipline, with all activities conducted safely and efficiently. Importantly, gold recovery rates have averaged above 92% on low-grade commissioning stockpiles, signaling effective processing performance ahead of ramping up to higher-grade ore.

Transition to High-Grade Ore and Equipment Expansion

As commissioning advances, Black Cat has begun feeding high-grade underground ore into the processing circuit, a significant step toward full production. This transition aligns with the company’s timeline to complete commissioning by February 2025, coinciding with the planned commencement of first stoping activities underground.

Supporting this operational ramp-up, Black Cat has taken delivery of additional mobile mining equipment, including two DL421 jumbo drills, a DL431 production drill, two Cat R1700 loaders, and two TH663 dump trucks. These units are currently undergoing commissioning, enhancing the underground fleet’s capacity and efficiency. The bulk emulsion explosive system for underground mining is also being commissioned, further enabling selective mining practices.

Strategic Outlook and Upcoming Activities

Looking ahead, Black Cat plans to initiate diamond drilling platforms in early February 2025 to support underground grade control and extensional drilling. This activity will be critical to refining resource models and optimizing mine planning. The company also outlined a series of upcoming milestones, including near-mine and regional drilling programs, quarterly activity reports, and progress updates on the Kal East processing facility expansion.

Paulsens itself holds a substantial resource base of 4.3 million tonnes at 4.0 grams per tonne gold for 548,000 ounces, complemented by significant polymetallic resources. The operation’s 450ktpa processing facility and 128-person camp position it as a strategically important asset within Black Cat’s portfolio, which also includes the Coyote Gold Operation and Kal East Gold Project.

Managing Director Gareth Solly emphasized the positive start to the year, highlighting the smooth commissioning process and the shift toward processing higher-grade ore. This progress underpins Black Cat’s ambition to become a multi-operation gold producer with a production target exceeding 150,000 ounces per annum across its assets.