Brightstar’s Laverton plant reaches halfway point as June 2027 gold target holds

Laverton plant remains on track for June 2027 gold

Brightstar Resources Limited (ASX:BTR) has reached the halfway mark on earned EPC value at its Laverton processing plant, keeping the 1.5Mtpa Goldfields Project on schedule and within its approved budget for first gold in June 2027. Engineering is now 90% complete, while the arrival of major SAG mill components marks another step from design and procurement into physical construction.

The progress update follows Brightstar’s recent A$82 million placement, which the company says is directed to accelerating growth at Sandstone and does not change the Goldfields Project’s budget or schedule. That separation matters: the announcement presents Laverton as continuing under its existing execution plan while Sandstone receives additional exploration and development funding.

Crusher, grinding and leach circuit work advances

October brought visible progress across the processing plant. Primary crusher concrete works were completed and backfilling has begun to connect the crusher with the run-of-mine pad. Structural steel erection has started in the grinding and classification area, the surge bin is nearing readiness for mechanical equipment installation, and two carbon-in-leach tanks have been fabricated to full height, with tanks three and four progressing.

“Grinding and Classification area - structural steel advancing.”

“NPI, Water Services and Power Station areas - looking north.”

Caption and image © Brightstar Resources Limited. From “Goldfields Project development on schedule and on budget”, 10 Nov 2026.

Civil works in the gold recovery and elution areas are complete, while concrete construction continues around the power station, reagents, water services and non-process infrastructure areas. The borefield has also reached a key development stage: main header pipework is complete, production bore flow-rate testing is underway and two production bores have been tested, enabling water transfer to the plant site.

Accommodation purchase supports construction and operations

“Newly acquired Boomers camp in the heart of Laverton.”

Brightstar has completed its acquisition of the Boomers Mining Accommodation Camp in Laverton, adding 223 rooms for the construction workforce and future mining, processing and site-based teams. The company says the camp is intended to support peak plant construction and shutdowns, provide a permanent operational base, and potentially accommodate activities north of Laverton such as Cork Tree Well. Further capacity could be added by relocating surplus accommodation infrastructure from the Second Fortune mine site.

Lord Byron moves towards first blast

At the Lord Byron open pit, site establishment and grade control drilling began during October, while drill and blast contractor Aquirian Limited (ASX:AQN) mobilised to site. Brightstar is targeting the first blast in the December quarter, ahead of the company’s stated schedule for mining to commence in early March 2027.

“Project Execution Schedule”

“CIL circuit - tank construction progressing - two leach tanks at full height.”

Caption and image © Brightstar Resources Limited. From “Goldfields Project development on schedule and on budget”, 10 Nov 2026.

November’s work programme is concentrated on finishing most remaining concrete, completing primary crusher backfill, installing and welding the CIL tank platework, extending structural steel erection and completing borefield fit-out and pump testing. These are construction milestones rather than production results, so the June 2027 first-gold target still depends on the remaining build, commissioning and mining development activities progressing as planned.