Northern Star Resources Ltd. has issued an update on its operational progress, confirming that commissioning of its expanded Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) processing plant is advancing despite early throughput variables.
Commissioning performance at KCGM remained variable throughout October due to intermittent mill motor control issues, which have now been resolved, and ongoing minor equipment rectifications.
October gold production at the site reached 15.3 thousand ounces from 766 thousand tonnes milled following a planned 3.5-day maintenance shutdown.
As a result, KCGM’s full-year output is currently tracking toward the lower end of its 550,000 to 650,000-ounce guidance range, dependent on the timing and pace of the continued ramp-up over the remainder of the financial year.
However, plant stability, availability, and throughput rates have shown positive momentum into November. Open pit and underground mining activities across KCGM continue to operate to plan, building run-of-mine stockpiles to support the expanded plant’s ramp-up.
Northern Star CEO Suresh Vadnagra said the teething issues encountered during commissioning are non-fundamental.
“While commissioning performance has not progressed as smoothly as we would have liked, we are focused on systematically resolving the remaining issues, which we do not consider to be fundamental, and establishing stable, reliable operating performance,” Vadnagra said.
“The issues identified to date do not change our confidence in the expanded plant or in the tremendous long-term value that KCGM will deliver.”
Northern Star reaffirmed its total group production guidance for fiscal 2027 at 1.5 to 1.65 million ounces of gold sold, with output weighted toward the second half.
Concurrently, the company achieved a major regulatory milestone for its Hemi Gold Project, securing primary environmental approvals under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and State Environmental Protection Act 1986.
Work remains ongoing to secure secondary regulatory approvals, groundwater licences, and land access arrangements.
