Brightstar Resources says construction of its 1.5Mtpa Laverton processing plant remains on schedule and within budget, with first gold still targeted for June 2027. The update also marks the end of underground mining at Second Fortune as the company shifts towards commissioning and new mine development.
- Laverton plant remains on schedule for first gold in June 2027
- CIL concrete works completed and first mechanical equipment delivered
- Second Fortune moves to care and maintenance with about 5koz stockpiled
- Lord Byron and Fish mine mobilisation plans advance
- Goldfields project targets about 75koz of annual production from FY28
Laverton construction holds its June 2027 target
Brightstar Resources Limited (ASX:BTR) has reached another construction milestone at its Goldfields Project, saying the 1.5Mtpa Laverton processing plant remains on schedule for first gold in June 2027 and is tracking within the approved budget.
The project has moved beyond early earthworks into a more visible equipment and installation phase. Bulk earthworks for the raw and process water ponds are complete, concrete works for the carbon-in-leach circuit have finished, and the first mechanical equipment, a vibrating screen, arrived on site in August.
Concrete and water infrastructure move forward
Construction progress during August included the first lift of the primary crusher walls, pouring of the SAG mill plinths and completion of thickener foundations and pedestals. Works are also advancing around the surge bin, gold recovery and elution areas, while structural steel and platework packages are being fabricated.
The borefield is developing in parallel. Additional bores have been drilled and cased, the pipe corridor has been cleared, and welding has started on carrier pipework. Main header pipework has been delivered to site, with installation intended to connect the water supply infrastructure to the processing plant.
Second Fortune closes as new mines prepare
Underground mining at Second Fortune has now concluded after six years without a lost-time injury, and the operation has been placed into care and maintenance. Brightstar says about 50,000 tonnes grading 3.1 grams per tonne gold, containing roughly 5,000 ounces, remains stockpiled to provide ramp-up material after commissioning.
Attention is turning to the next operating fronts. Planning for the Lord Byron open pit continues ahead of infrastructure work scheduled to begin in October, with mobilisation targeted for the December 2026 quarter. Mining teams are also preparing for the Fish underground mine, while near-term exploration drilling has begun on early-stage targets close to the Laverton mill site.
September work shifts towards installation
Brightstar’s September schedule calls for concrete completion across the crushing, surge bin, grinding and classification areas, the start of civil works for the reagents area, and installation of CIL tank platework. Structural steel erection is due to begin around the surge bin, while borefield drilling, pipe welding and main header installation continue.
Managing Director Alex Rovira said the company’s owner’s team and EPC partner GR Engineering were maintaining delivery to schedule through the civil and concrete phase. “The completion of the CIL circuit concrete and the arrival of the first mechanical equipment on site are important milestones,” Rovira said, adding that the company was advancing towards first gold in less than ten months’ time. (ASX:BTR)
The operating plan remains an initial six-year mine life producing about 75,000 ounces a year from FY28. Brightstar is also assessing mine-life extensions and a potential increase in plant throughput to 2.5Mtpa, but those options remain under evaluation rather than forming part of the confirmed construction scope described in this update.
Bottom Line?
The schedule is intact, but the next test is whether equipment installation, water infrastructure and mine mobilisation maintain that momentum into commissioning.
Questions in the middle?
- Will September’s structural steel and CIL tank installation milestones be completed without changing the June 2027 first-gold target?
- How quickly can Lord Byron and Fish replace Second Fortune as active sources of near-term ore?
- What additional capital, mine-life data or development work would be required to support the potential 2.5Mtpa expansion?