Kingsgate Restarts Chatree Plant 1 at Half Capacity with Ball Mill Repairs Underway
Kingsgate Consolidated has successfully restarted Plant 1 at its Chatree Gold Mine at around 50% capacity using a modified circuit while fast-tracking repairs to the Ball Mill. Mining operations continue uninterrupted, supporting ongoing production at Plant 2.
- Plant 1 restarted at 50% capacity via modified circuit
- Ball Mill bearings removed and sent for refurbishment
- Throughput increased to approximately 130 wet tonnes per hour
- Mining operations continue without disruption
- Total Chatree processing capacity now exceeds 4 mtpa
Partial Restart of Plant 1 with Modified Circuit
Kingsgate Consolidated Limited (ASX:KCN) has made significant strides in restoring operations at Plant 1 of its Chatree Gold Mine, achieving roughly 50% of the plant's usual processing capacity through a modified circuit. The Ball Mill, a critical component of the processing plant, was isolated to enable the recommissioning of SAG Mill 1 in a closed-circuit setup. This adjustment allowed Plant 1 to operate continuously during a successful trial at about 105–110 wet tonnes per hour, which has since been increased to approximately 130 wet tonnes per hour, equivalent to 1.1 million tonnes per annum.
Focused Repairs on Ball Mill Bearings Underway
The company is fast-tracking remediation on Ball Mill 1, with key repair activities including the removal of both bearings, which have been transported to a specialist workshop in Thailand for laser cladding and refurbishment. Concurrently, replacement components for the lubrication system are being procured, and audits have commenced to prepare the trunnion journals for refurbishment. Kingsgate is collaborating closely with Metso and specialist contractors to minimise downtime and safely restore full functionality to the Ball Mill as soon as possible.
Mining Operations Continue Uninterrupted
Mining activities at Chatree remain unaffected by the Plant 1 remediation. The mining team is optimising mine sequencing and stockpile management to maximise head grades during the period of reduced Plant 1 capacity. This strategy supports the fully operational Plant 2 and positions the operation to maintain production performance once Plant 1 returns to full service.
Chatree Processing Capacity Strengthened Amid Repairs
With Plant 1 operating at around half capacity and Plant 2 fully functional, total processing capacity at Chatree has been restored to over 4 million tonnes per annum. This partial recovery helps sustain the mine's output while repairs to the Ball Mill continue. The addition of six tonnes of 125mm grinding media has been part of the optimisation process to enhance throughput, with power draw remaining comfortably below capacity at approximately 2.3 MW.
Bottom Line?
Kingsgate’s swift workaround for Plant 1 keeps Chatree’s processing capacity robust, but the timeline for full Ball Mill restoration remains a key operational watchpoint.
Questions in the middle?
- How quickly can Kingsgate fully restore Ball Mill 1 to resume full Plant 1 capacity?
- What impact will the partial capacity at Plant 1 have on Chatree’s near-term production and financial performance?
- Will ongoing optimisation of mining sequencing offset any processing limitations during remediation?
