Hillgrove Resources has achieved a significant milestone with the production of first copper concentrate from the Kanmantoo underground mine in South Australia following successful commissioning of the processing facility.
“Completing this transition from explorer to producer makes Hillgrove Resources one of only a few copper producers on the [Australian Stock Exchange], and doing so in eight months highlights the company’s capability to deliver on stated objectives,” said Hillgrove CEO and Managing Director Lachlan Wallace, noting that operations will be bedded down at the site as it ramps up to steady stage production.
Wallace added that the company is “actively seeking to grow both the mine life and the annual copper production profile through exploration, starting with our substantial 60-100 million tonne exploration target within close proximity to the underutilised processing plant, including the recently discovered Kanmantoo Deeps target.”
Over the next few months, additional work areas will be established as the underground development advances, which will enable copper production to increase.
The Kanmantoo underground mine is located just out of Adelaide and operated as a series of open pits from 2010 to 2020, producing around 137kt of copper and over 55k oz of gold.
Source: Hillgrove Resources