Name of the Project
Tomingley gold extension project.
Location
Central-west New South Wales, Australia.
Project Owner/s
Alkane Resources.
Project Description
The SAR opencut will combine the adjacent San Antonio and Roswell deposits, with up to three subpits. The extension project will increase the mine’s life until 2032.
The total opencut will be up to 1.7 km long, 700 m wide and 310 m deep. The opencut will be mined in stages to minimise biodiversity disturbance and allow for progressive rehabilitation.
Alkane also plans to develop an underground mine at Roswell, using the exploration drive originating at the Wyoming One underground operation. A portal may later be established within a completed stage of the SAR opencut.
Alkane will mine the opencut in stages to minimise biodiversity disturbance and allow for progressive rehabilitation.
Before the SAR opencut development can start, Arkane will need to complete diversions to the Newell Highway and Kyalite road.
The existing Tomingley processing plant is undergoing some modifications to achieve a maximum production rate of 1.75-million tonnes a year.
The project’s consent conditions also permit paste filling of underground stopes at Roswell and wall-lifts to the second residue storage facility, enough to contain mine residue that may be produced until 2032.
Potential Job Creation
The extension of the operations will secure 150 jobs for the region.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.
Capital Expenditure
About $89-million in capital is estimated for highway relocation and the expansion, in addition to current capital expenditure of about $43-million, expected to be funded from cashflow and debt.
Planned Start/End Date
The Tomingley project was approved by the New South Wales Minister for Planning in February 2023.
Underground mining started at Roswell in April 2024.
A final investment decision on the highway relocation will be made in early 2025.
The new openpit will come into production in 2027.
Latest Developments
The Tomingley gold operation is set to increase production to more than 100 000 oz/y by 2027, according to Alkane.
The company announced a five-year plan for Tomingley on June 24, which will produce 455 000 oz to 505 000 oz of gold over that period.
“Our five-year plan details the capital programme that develops the opencut operations, expands the plant and moves the operation to deliver above 100 000 oz of gold a year,” MD Nic Earner said.
With the Roswell underground deposit in production, the next five years will see the development of the already approved opencut operations at San Antonio. This requires the relocation of a section of the Newell highway and generates sufficient ore to justify the upgrade of the Tomingley process plant to increase throughput to a nominal rate of 1.5-million tonnes a year.
To access the San Antonio deposit, Alkane will build a new section of highway to bypass the development. The Kyalite road also needs to be realigned as it runs through the proposed opencut. These construction projects are expected to take six to nine months and must be completed before opencut development can start.
Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
Alkane Resources, tel +61 8 9227 5677 or email mail@alkane.co.au.