Aguia’s Santa Barbara Gold Production Surges to 470 Grams in February
Aguia Resources has reported its best-ever gold production at the Santa Barbara project in Colombia, with metallurgical improvements driving recovery rates above 85%. The company is poised to achieve positive cash flow soon as it completes plant mechanisation and optimises mining operations.
- February 2026 gold production hits record ~470 grams at 4 g/t grade
- Metallurgical process optimised with batch recoveries consistently above 85%
- Full mechanisation of crushing plant imminent with all equipment onsite
- Merrill-Crowe system to boost gold recovery by up to 5% from March
- Focus on high-grade stopes and improved mining protocols for efficiency
Record Production and Recovery Gains
Aguia Resources Limited (ASX:AGR) has announced a significant operational milestone at its Santa Barbara Gold Project in Colombia, reporting February 2026 as its best month on record with approximately 470 grams of gold produced at an average grade of 4 grams per tonne. This achievement follows a focused restructuring effort since December 2025 that addressed critical plant and underground development issues.
Over the past three months, the company has consistently set new monthly records for gold yields per tonne processed, outperforming the previous six months. Metallurgical process optimisation has been a key driver, with batch recoveries now reliably exceeding 85%, a marked improvement that bodes well for scaling production.
Advancing Plant Mechanisation and Efficiency
All equipment required for the crushing section has arrived onsite and awaits final assembly, expected to be completed in March 2026. This will fully mechanise the plant, addressing the main throughput bottleneck and enhancing operational safety and efficiency. The ball mill setup has been calibrated effectively, with Ball Mill #2 achieving 90% passing at 325 microns, ensuring adequate fine grinding essential for gold liberation.
Additionally, the Merrill-Crowe precipitation system is scheduled to become fully operational from early March, anticipated to increase gold recovery by up to 5% and shorten batch processing times. These enhancements are expected to further improve the plant’s throughput and recovery metrics.
Mining Focus and Future Plans
Mining efforts are currently concentrated on Stopes #1, #2, and #3, targeting high-grade mineralised pods with gold grades exceeding 10 g/t in some areas. Adjustments to blasting patterns and powder factors have been implemented to minimise ore loss from over-blasting, while ore transport from mine faces to the plant has been optimised.
Looking ahead, Aguia plans to optimise underground mining methods and processing plant head grades in the second quarter of 2026. This will enable the resumption of exploration activities aimed at delineating the broader mineralised system, which the company believes holds substantial upside potential beyond current production zones.
Outlook and Market Implications
Managing Director Timothy Hoskings expressed confidence that the recent operational improvements position Santa Barbara to deliver positive cash flow shortly, with minimal additional capital expenditure required. The company awaits assay results from SGS laboratories to complete reconciliation and validate head grades, which will be critical for confirming the project's economic potential.
With mechanisation nearing completion and process efficiencies steadily improving, Aguia Resources is transitioning from a recovery phase into a growth trajectory, signalling a promising outlook for investors and stakeholders in the Colombian gold mining sector.
Bottom Line?
Aguia’s operational strides at Santa Barbara set the stage for imminent positive cash flow and renewed exploration ambitions.
Questions in the middle?
- Will assay results confirm the improved head grades and support resource expansion?
- How quickly can full mechanisation translate into sustained higher throughput and lower costs?
- What exploration findings will emerge once drilling resumes in Q2 2026?
