Westgold Resources will increase the throughput capacity of its Cue processing hub from 1.4Mtpa to 1.7Mtpa by FY28. The expansion, referred to as the Cue Expansion Plan, targets a debottlenecking of the existing circuit to support growing underground ore production.

The company will invest $22 million to upgrade the mill, which includes replacing the current 2.9MW motor with a 4.2MW unit and installing a variable speed drive. These modifications are designed to increase the milling circuit’s nominal throughput from 170 tonnes per hour to 200 tonnes per hour. Once the upgrade is commissioned in late FY27, the company expects the higher capacity to lift annual gold output from the Cue hub by approximately 15,000 ounces from FY28 onwards.

“Bigger mines need bigger mills. Westgold's underground mine outputs are growing across all the Murchison operations and building ore stockpiles from FY27 onwards.”

— Wayne Bramwell, Managing Director and CEO

The expansion is underpinned by increasing mine outputs from the Big Bell and Great Fingall underground operations. To support future ore optionality, Westgold has commenced brownfields resource definition drilling at the Big Bell South and Cuddingwarra targets.

A scoping study for the project estimates a 10-month payback period on the capital investment. Westgold noted that while the project is in the scoping phase, the upgrade is intended to maximize the utilization of established infrastructure to lower operating costs and enhance cash flow. The company is now advancing detailed engineering and procurement planning for the works.

Read the full announcement: Cue Hub Expansion to 1.7Mtpa in FY28