• Evaluation work identifies potential to expand 15-Mile processing facility to 3.0 Mtpa
• Preferred scenario involves trucking Cochrane Hill ore to the 15-Mile plant, along with 15-Mile and Beaver Dam ore
• Quarry-style design at Cochrane Hill enables low-environmental impact with minimal infrastructure requirements

St Barbara Ltd has provided an update on the redesign of the Cochrane Hill Project in Nova Scotia, Canada. 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 Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS). The preferred scenario involves trucking Cochrane Hill ore to the 15-Mile process plant, along with the 15-Mile and Beaver Dam ore feed, using a quarry-style configuration. To accommodate the larger combined feed of all three projects, an expansion of the proposed 15-Mile processing facility would increase the mill throughput from 2.1 Mtpa to 3.0 Mtpa. Initial indications suggest that relatively low capital expenditure would be needed to increase the capacity of the Touquoy plant, which is to be relocated to 15-Mile, from 2.1 Mtpa to 3.0 Mtpa. Recent metallurgical test work confirms the free-milling Cochrane Hill ore would be compatible with the 15-Mile and Beaver Dam ores, enabling lower energy requirements, cost reductions, and efficient ore blending. The quarry-style design at Cochrane Hill enables a low-environmental impact project layout with minimal infrastructure requirements through elimination of crushing, processing, tailings or water withdrawals. Optional use of ore-sorting at Cochrane Hill may further increase anticipated head grade to the 15-Mile process plant. Evaluation work on the expansion of the proposed 15-Mile processing plant and the incorporation of Cochrane Hill ore will continue through Q3 and Q4 FY25, with an updated integrated 15-Mile, Beaver Dam and Cochrane Hill PFS targeted for Q3 FY26.

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 100koz per annum or more.