St Barbara Limited ('St Barbara' or the 'Company') (ASX: SBM) is pleased to provide an update on the redesign of the Cochrane Hill Project in Nova Scotia, Canada since the previous announcement on 22 October 2024.
Evaluation work has identified the potential to expand the proposed 15-Mile processing facility to 3.0 Mtpa compared to the 2.1 Mtpa anticipated in the previously announced 15-Mile and Beaver Dam PFS2. St Barbara anticipates that expansion to 3.0 Mtpa and the incorporation of Cochrane Hill in the schedule will be integral features of an optimised project that aims to support annual gold production of 100kozper annum or more. Managing Director and CEO Andrew Strelein said 'The review, which is ongoing, of the Cochrane Hill re-design is extremely positive. Our team has made significant strides in optimising the project's design, focusing on enhancing economic value while minimising environmental impact.
As part of the initial phase of work, St Barbara has assessed multiple scenarios for the Cochrane Hill Gold Project in Nova Scotia. These scenarios have considered various mining and processing rates, as well as design options, to maximise project value while balancing social and environmental considerations. The evaluation included a comparison to the original 2019 Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) design, along with alternative approaches such as a standalone conventional Carbon-in-Leach circuit, Ore-Sorting, and Whole-Ore trucking to the proposed 15-Mile project, located approximately 70 km away by sealed roads. In total, over 15 scenarios were modelled to refine mine-to-mill optimisation for Cochrane Hill.
The selected approach is a quarry-style design with ore being hauled to the proposed 15-Mile processing facility. 15-Mile is proposed to undergo an expansion from 2.1 Mtpa to 3.0 Mtpa with relatively minor changes to the existing Touquoy plant, which is to be relocated to 15-Mile. The quarry-style satellite deposit approach for Cochrane Hill offers a low-capital, low-operating-cost solution with a minimal project disturbance footprint. The Cochrane Hill redesign would not require crushing, processing, a tailings facility or water extractions at the site.
Additionally, pit optimisations have allowed the Company to eliminate the need to relocate the nearby public highway. Project layouts are advancing with an advanced understanding of environmental considerations and a focus on limiting infrastructure requirements and ground disturbance. This provides a significant improvement in final landform design post-reclamation allowing the site to be reclaimed quicker compared to previous designs.
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