Copper producer Austral Resources Australia Ltd has announced first ore haulage from its new Anthill Mine to the Mt Kelly processing plant and the intention to begin Anthill ore processing by the end of April 2022. First oxide ore deliveries from Austral’s Anthill Mine to the plant commenced on 22 March 2022, with first rock processed on 24 March 2022.
Steve Tambanis, Austral’s Chief Executive Officer said “the first Anthill ore delivery to our processing facility represents a significant milestone achievement for the company”.
Ore stacking onto the heap leach pad is expected to begin in late April and first plates of Anthill copper cathode will be produced in May 2022. From July onwards, copper cathode production is expected to exceed 1,000 tonnes per month. Rapidly increasing production and higher than forecast copper prices will combine to see healthy sales revenue from May.
Over four million tonnes of overburden has been moved since 6 January this year. When full scale haulage commences with 125t road trains, each train contains sufficient copper to produce one tonne of recovered copper cathode or >US$10,000 per train at current copper prices.
The crushing circuit successfully processed its first rock as part of the refurbishment and commissioning process.
There are currently over 100 staff and contractors on site, finishing the plant refurbishment and beginning full scale ore production. Austral is on track to achieve a planned copper production rate of 10,000 tonnes per annum from mid-2022 for a four-year period.
“We look forward to further updating shareholders as we commence maiden Anthill copper production and step-up exploration and development activities.”
Ore delivery schedule expects 5,000t in March, 55,000t in April and 155,000t in May 2022. Cathode production will triple by May 2022, 10x by September.