Meeka Metals Ltd. has commenced expansion work on the processing plant at its Murchison gold project in Western Australia, aiming to significantly scale up production through the integration of advanced ore-sorting technology.
The expansion, which is expected to be commissioned in the September 2026 quarter, will unlock an additional 200,000 tonnes per annum (ktpa) of milling capacity. This brings the project’s total throughput to approximately 800ktpa, providing a major tailwind for the company’s annual gold yield.
The focal point of the upgrade is the installation of a Steinert multi-sensor ore sorter. This facility will sit ahead of the main processing plant to pre-sort ore from the Andy Well underground mine.
Recent test work at Steinert’s specialist facility delivered exceptional results, showing that 85 per cent of contained gold could be concentrated into just 50 per cent of the rock mass. This effectively doubles the head grade of the ore entering the mill, while lower-grade material is sidelined into stockpiles for processing at a later date.
Meeka Managing Director Tim Davidson said the investment was a high-return move for the company.
“Ore sorting unlocks an additional 200,000 tonnes per annum of milling capacity and effectively doubles the head grade of Andy Well ore entering the plant, delivering a meaningful increase in annual gold production,” Davidson said.
“We expect this high-return, quick-payback investment to be operational in the September 2026 quarter, providing additional processing capacity for ore from our open pits and our second underground mine at Turnberry, commencing in 2026.”
At a cost of just AU$6 million and a six-month commissioning timeline, the ore-sorting route is significantly cheaper and faster than a traditional expansion of the crushing and grinding circuits.
Beyond the production hike, the company expects several operational wins, including reduced plant wear and lower tailings deposition per ounce of gold produced.
