Bellevue Gold Limited (ASX: BGL) has confirmed it is studying options to toll treat the anticipated ore stockpile at its Bellevue Gold Project in WA ahead of commissioning the processing plant.
Managing Director Steve Parsons said the decision to review toll treating options was made in light of the strong progress being made on underground development, which is comfortably ahead of schedule at 6.7km.
The progress rate has been further enhanced with the delivery of a second jumbo in October 2022. Mining is scheduled to start ore driving in the Upper Armand areas this month which will in turn will increase the number of available headings and increase development rates. Sequential opening up of the five independent work areas is on track, with Armand reached in late July and Bellevue South scheduled for early 2023.
It is increasingly clear that we may have an opportunity to accelerate the start of cashflow due to the significant ore stockpile we expect to accumulate before plant commissioning gets underway,” Mr Parsons said.
“We are now studying options for toll treating in the region and considering the benefits this scenario could deliver for our cash position. We may also have the option of accelerating mine development given the outstanding progress made to date. However, the cost of this strategy would need to be more than offset by the immediate cashflow benefits.”
The forecast stockpile is set to exceed 200,000 tonnes at 5g/t gold, which will be partly the result of mining the planned Vanguard open pit that is set to commence in the first quarter of next year and will consist of ~100kt at >3.5g/t gold. The mined Vanguard pit will then be transformed into the tailings dam for plant commissioning.
In addition to the rapid rate of underground development, plant construction is also advancing quickly, putting Bellevue on track for first production in the second half of CY2023. The project remains well funded with $277.3m of available liquidity as at September 30, 2022.
Significant de-risking of the plant construction has been achieved with the bulk earthworks that commenced in September 2022 now complete. Critical path concrete pours are also complete, including ball mill raft, CIL ring beams and crusher pocket. Critical path and long lead items for the processing plant are under manufacture with key items starting to arrive in Perth.
“We are reaping the benefits of the decisions we made some time ago to order critical long-lead items early,” Mr Parsons said. “This has helped us avoid supply chain disruptions and advance the de-risking process.
“We have been very progressive with our approach to the concept of sustainability and the focus on our people, culture and designing a project where people want to come and work. In conjunction with our mining contractor Develop Global Limited, we have also been very successful in recruiting and establishing a first- rate team. We have no doubt that this is due in part to the strength of the project and the strong emphasis on ESG.”
Key items relating to the progress of the construction and procurement activities are:
- GR Engineering Services Limited (and subcontractors) fully mobilised and advancing construction on site as per the EPC agreement. GR Engineering is a major West Australian based design and construct contractor with a track record of recent successful delivery of similar projects;
- Construction activities are progressing well with bulk earthworks completed at the processing plant site;
- Detailed earthworks completed for all critical path areas of the processing plant, with ancillary areas well
- advanced; and
- Structural concrete commenced, with critical path pours complete; including ball mill raft, CIL ring beams and crusher pocket.
Critical path and long lead items are under manufacture with key items starting to arrive in Perth:
- Project has benefited from efficient supply chain with no disruptions, with key critical path processing plant components arriving ahead of requirements;
- Components were ordered ahead of time, securing project delivery timeline;
- Platework fabricated and other ancillary plant ready for transport to site ahead of schedule – chutes, lime silo, screens;
- Crushers – landed in Australia; and
- Mill – fabrication on schedule – due for arrival in Australia in March 2023, well ahead of critical path requirement
Mining Activities
Underground mining activities continue to progress well and ahead of schedule with an excellent safety record and quality standards maintained. At the end of October 2022, a total of 6.7km of total development has been completed since underground activities commenced in August 2020. Development continues on both the northern and southern declines with access to the second production centre at Bellevue South expected in January 2023, having accessed first ore in Armand in July (refer to ASX announcement dated 19 July 2022).
