Capricorn Metals has completed its Karlawinda Expansion Project on schedule and achieved the targeted 6.5 million tonnes per annum throughput. The expanded operation is expected to produce about 150,000 ounces of gold annually, although the plant remains in its ramp-up phase.
- Karlawinda expansion completed in 12 months
- New crushing, milling and CIL circuits operational
- 6.5Mtpa steady-state throughput achieved
- Expected annual production of about 150,000 ounces
- More than 10 years of mine life on existing reserves
Karlawinda expansion reaches targeted throughput
Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX:CMM) has crossed the most important operational threshold in its Karlawinda expansion, completing construction and reaching the targeted 6.5 million tonnes per annum throughput after a 12-month build.
The new parallel crushing, milling and carbon-in-leach circuits are now operating continuously, with commissioning completed over the past two weeks. Capricorn said all components of the plant are operational and moving towards full throughput on a steady-state basis.
Low-grade ore gives way to run-of-mine feed
The achievement is not the same as a fully settled production profile. The new plant is currently processing low-grade ore and is expected to transition to run-of-mine grade ore over the coming week as operations move into steady state. Product-size optimisation in the expansion crushing circuit is also continuing.
Commissioning of the carbon-in-leach areas and tailings storage facility 2 pipework is complete, while run-of-mine ore stocks continue to build on the second ROM pad. Those details point to a project that has moved from construction into operational tuning, with performance under normal feed conditions still to be demonstrated.
Production target rests on expanded Karlawinda base
Capricorn expects the expanded Karlawinda Gold Project to produce about 150,000 ounces of gold per year, supported by more than 10 years of mine life on existing reserves. That is an expectation rather than an achieved production result, and the announcement does not provide updated recovery, operating-cost or capital-cost figures.
Executive Chairman Mark Clark described the start of continuous processing as a significant milestone and said the company was now focused on transitioning Karlawinda into a long-life operation producing around 150,000 ounces annually. The next evidence will come from the plant's treatment of run-of-mine ore, actual gold output and the consistency of throughput after commissioning.
Bottom Line?
Construction execution is now behind Capricorn; the investment test shifts to whether 6.5Mtpa throughput converts into stable recoveries, costs and roughly 150,000 ounces of annual production.
Questions in the middle?
- How will throughput and recovery rates perform once the plant moves from low-grade to run-of-mine ore?
- When will Capricorn provide operating-cost, recovery and production data reflecting the expanded operation?
- How much further optimisation will the crushing circuit require before Karlawinda reaches sustained steady-state performance?