Northern Star Resources has lowered its fiscal 2026 output guidance, attributing the lower guidance to equipment failures at its operations in Western Australia.
The company cut its fiscal 2026 production guidance to 1,600-1,700 koz, from 1,700-1,850koz following a softer operational performance during the December quarter of 2025.
Total gold sales for the December quarter reached 348koz, resulting in first half gold sales of 729koz.
Northern Star said lower gold sales across its three production centres impacted cost performance.
For its Kalgoorlie production centre, gold sales reached 203koz, down 110koz due to primary crusher failure, which impacted production for four weeks.
The company expects the processing plant to return to normal operations in early January but throughput is expected to remain variable in the second half as the company transitions to the new expanded mill, which is on track for commission in early fiscal 2027.
December gold sales came in at 91koz at the company’s Yandal production centre, reflecting weaker performance at Jundee and Thunderbox.
Recovery works have taken longer than planned at Jundee with return to normal operations now expected during the March quarter following the flagged localised structural failure in the crushing circuit.
At Thunderbox, gold sales were impacted by continued lower mined grades from the Orelia open pit and unplanned processing downtime due to carbon-in-leach tank failures.
Gold sales at Pogo were affected by lower mined grades due to underground mining dilution.
