ASX-listed Sunshine Metals has completed the $18-million acquisition of the Mt Moss operation in north Queensland, with the company now rapidly progressing engineering and design work for the project's restart.

Detailed plant design is scheduled for completion in August, with plant refurbishment, construction and permitting to follow thereafter.

Sunshine plans to undertake first gold processing from Mt Moss ore in mid-2027.

The Mt Moss acquisition included seven square kilometers of highly prospective mining licences and 753 km² of exploration permits, as well as a processing plant with two ball mills totalling 300 000 t/y of throughput capacity, a tailings storage facility and extensive supporting infrastructure - a 28-room accommodation camp, workshop, office complex, core shed, large laydown yard and critical spares.

Sunshine has already operationalised the accommodation camp to support contractors during plant refurbishment and construction activities.

Sunshine MD Damien Keys says the acquisition provides the company with a permitted processing site and existing infrastructure that can underpin the company's planned transition to gold production from the Liontown project in 2027.

"Our team is working closely with local engineering, metallurgical and environmental firms to ensure we are construction ready as soon as possible.

“Minor plumbing, electrical, painting and building works have bought the camp back to life, with 28 rooms now ready to accommodate mill recommissioning crews and exploration teams.

“Last week, Sunshine hosted key government and investor stakeholders at Mt Moss, showcasing the progress of the camp refurbishment and plans to upgrade the processing facility," Keys explains.

He confirms that final site preparations at the Sybil project are now nearing completion ahead of drilling at Francis Creek, Francis Creek East and Blue Range.

"Sunshine’s sites are a hive of activity at the moment, and we look forward to updating shareholders on our progress.”