Red 5 Limited (ASX: RED) has completed the first gold pour at the 100%-owned 2.4Moz, 16-year life-of-mine King of the Hills (KOTH) Gold Project in Western Australia.
The first smelt delivered two gold doré bars weighing 1,588 ounces, following the recent commissioning of the gravity and elution circuits.
The gyratory crushing circuit has been running on a combination of oxide and fresh material for over 40 days and has achieved throughput rates above 1,600 tonnes per hour. The grinding circuit and wet plant continue to ramp up, with the SAG mill now achieving throughput rates over 600 tonnes per hour at moderate mill load and power draw.
In the coming weeks, the KOTH processing team will continue to focus on increasing the mill production rate and completing outstanding punch list items with the EPC contractor.
The team is well placed to increase the KOTH processing plant to full capacity, with over 800,000 tonnes, or approximately two months of feed stock now on the ROM pad.
Red 5 Managing Director, Mark Williams, said the first gold pour marked a huge milestone for the Company and its shareholders.
We can all be proud of this achievement. It marks the beginning of a new era for Red 5, with the new 4.7Mtpa King of the Hills processing plant set to become a highly efficient production hub,” Mr Williams said.
“There are promising signs regarding future throughput potential and with two months of feed stocks ready for processing and mining now well established, we have a strong platform to build upon.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has assisted us in getting to first gold within the scheduled timeframe, amid the backdrop of a very challenging environment.”
For further information please visit: https://www.red5limited.com