Name of the Project
Gwalia mass extraction (GMX) project.

Location
The project is located south of Leonora, in Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
St Barbara Limited.

Project Description
The Gwalia mine hosts 1.9-million ounces of gold in reserves at a grade of 7.5 g/t.

A February 2018 prefeasibility study proposed changes in mining and haulage methods to suit the Gwalia orebody as it deepens.

A feasibility study has now identified an optimised trucking case as the preferred option to haul ore from the mine, despite having evaluated other haulage methods, including hydraulic hoisting using displace­ment pumping and hydraulic hoisting using a three-chamber pipe feeder.

The life-of-mine for the preferred trucking option will extend the project life until 2031, at mining rates of up to 1.1-million tonnes a year to 2 300 m below the surface using the existing Gwalia resources and reserves.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
The trucking option will require capital expenditure of about A$100-million for additional ventilation and cooling over the life of the project, including an estimated A$30-million for additional ventilation within the GMX.

Planned Start/End Date
The project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2020.

Latest Developments
St Barbara has revised its production expectations for the Gwalia project for the 2020 financial year while raising the expected all-in sustaining costs (AISC) for the operation.

St Barbara has downgraded the production expectations at Gwalia from the previously targeted 200 000 oz to 210 000 oz, to between 175 000 oz and 190 000 oz.

The company has said that near-term production from Gwalia will be impacted on by strained infrastructure, as the remaining Gwalia extension project construction and raise-boring programme is competing for constrained ventilation with the scheduled production and development activities.

The AISCs for 2020 are also expected to increase from the initial estimate of between A$1 230.oz and A$1 290/oz, to between A$1 390/oz and A$1 450/oz.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
St Barbara Limited, tel +61 3 8660 1900 or email info@stbarbara.com.au.