Brightstar Launches CY25 Gold Production with Ore Haulage and March Pour Target

Brightstar Advances Production Strategy

Brightstar Resources Limited has taken a significant step forward in its 2025 production agenda by commencing ore haulage from its Laverton Hub to the Genesis Minerals Laverton Mill. This move activates the Ore Purchase Agreement (OPA) signed late last year, enabling Brightstar to process up to 500,000 tonnes of ore through the course of 2025 and into the first quarter of 2026.

The company anticipates its inaugural gold pour in March 2025, marking a milestone after months of mine development and operational preparation. Brightstar’s Managing Director, Alex Rovira, highlighted the strategic importance of this milestone, emphasizing the timing amidst record Australian dollar gold prices and the potential for a step change in production.

Ore Sources and Production Outlook

The ore haulage program draws from multiple sources within Brightstar’s Laverton Hub. The primary contributor is the Second Fortune underground mine, an operating asset with a JORC Mineral Resource Estimate of 165,000 tonnes at 10.9 grams per tonne gold, equating to approximately 58,000 ounces. Historic production at Second Fortune has averaged around 10,000 tonnes per month at a reconciled grade of 3.6 grams per tonne.

Complementing this is the Fish underground project, currently in development and expected to add significant high-grade ore to the production profile once regulatory approvals are secured. The Fish project holds a JORC Mineral Resource Estimate of 225,000 tonnes at 5.7 grams per tonne for 41,000 ounces of gold. Additionally, existing open pit stockpiles at Laverton contain roughly 200,000 tonnes at 1.0 gram per tonne, providing a near-term feedstock with sunk mining costs.

Financial Position and Growth Prospects

Brightstar remains both debt-free and hedge-free, positioning it to fully benefit from the current strong gold price environment. The OPA with Genesis Minerals not only provides a processing solution but also underpins Brightstar’s cash flow generation for 2025, which will support aggressive exploration and development plans.

Parallel to ore processing activities, Brightstar is advancing a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) on its broader Laverton-Menzies development strategy, which includes refurbishing its 100% owned processing plant in Laverton. This longer-term infrastructure investment aims to transition Brightstar into a multi-asset gold producer with diversified operations across several hubs.

Exploration and Resource Expansion

Brightstar’s exploration team is actively engaged in a substantial drilling program, including over 55,000 metres of extensional and infill drilling at the Sandstone Gold Project. This effort targets growth of the existing 1.5 million ounce resource, aiming to enhance the company’s development pipeline and production optionality.

Meanwhile, underground development and drilling at Second Fortune continue to yield promising high-grade intercepts, supporting an upcoming resource upgrade expected in early 2025. The recommencement of stoping activities in December 2024 has positioned the mine well for sustained production through the year.

Looking Ahead

With ore haulage underway and first gold production imminent, Brightstar is poised to convert its extensive resource base into tangible cash flow. The company’s strategy to leverage third-party processing while advancing its own plant refurbishment reflects a pragmatic approach to scaling production efficiently. Success in these initiatives could significantly enhance Brightstar’s profile as a growing mid-tier gold producer in Western Australia’s prolific Goldfields region.