Can Aguia Sustain Gains After Halving Staff and Overhauling Operations?
Aguia Resources has implemented strategic operational changes at its Santa Barbara Gold Project in Colombia, achieving a 70% gold recovery rate in December and targeting over 80% in early 2026.
- 50% reduction in mine staffing to a single shift
- Transition to batch processing improves gold recovery by 45%
- December gold sales estimated at A$120,000
- Independent audit highlights modernization opportunities
- Exploration drilling planned for 2026 to define Mineral Resource Estimate
Operational Overhaul at Santa Barbara
Aguia Resources Limited has announced a significant turnaround at its Santa Barbara Gold Project in Colombia, following a comprehensive audit and operational restructuring. The company has streamlined its mining operations by reducing staff by over 50%, consolidating activities into a single shift, and adopting batch processing techniques. These changes have led to a marked improvement in gold recovery rates, which reached 70% in December, up from much lower levels earlier in the year.
Audit Findings and Process Improvements
The independent review conducted by Canadian mining engineer Ken Nipius identified key areas for modernization, including optimizing material handling and upgrading processing circuits. The audit noted that the existing infrastructure was in good condition but required layout improvements and a review of the cyanide leaching process to enhance efficiency. Following these recommendations, Aguia reinstated prior ore processing methods and introduced a pre-conditioning phase using caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide, which significantly boosted gold recoveries from 25% to over 70% during December.
Financial and Production Highlights
December gold sales are projected to be approximately A$120,000, based on an average gold price of A$5,949 per ounce. While production volumes remain modest, the company is encouraged by the improved operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the revamped mining and processing approach. The focus on selective mining of high-grade ore, with grades reaching up to 13.67 grams per tonne, has further optimized processing outcomes.
Looking Ahead – Exploration and Growth Plans
Building on these operational gains, Aguia plans to ramp up exploration drilling in the third quarter of 2026, aiming to define a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for Santa Barbara. The company intends to maintain a smaller, highly skilled workforce to continue underground development and batch processing, targeting gold recovery rates exceeding 80% in the coming months. Additionally, a trial processing of lower-grade ore at an independent facility in Antioquia will provide benchmarking data for future cost management.
Management Perspective
CEO Tim Hosking emphasized the rapid progress made since implementing the changes, highlighting the importance of refining metallurgical processes and assembling the right team. He described the recent batch processing results as validation of Santa Barbara's potential as a high-grade mineralized system and signaled that further updates would follow early in the new year.
Bottom Line?
Aguia’s operational reset at Santa Barbara sets the stage for a critical growth phase, but sustaining recovery improvements and defining resources remain key challenges.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Aguia sustain and exceed the 80% gold recovery target in 2026?
- How will the reduced workforce impact long-term operational scalability?
- What will the upcoming exploration drilling reveal about the deposit’s size and grade?
