Westgold Resources has demonstrated that its systematic infrastructure investment at the Beta Hunt underground mine in Kambalda has paid off, with the operation hitting a 2 million tonne per annum (Mtpa) annualised mining rate in September 2026. This milestone matters because it proves the mine’s recent $33.3 million capital program has successfully removed the production bottlenecks that constrained the asset to approximately 1.4Mtpa before Westgold’s acquisition in August 2024.
The infrastructure overhaul tackled six specific constraint areas. Ventilation absorbed the largest investment at $17.7 million combined (primary and interim solutions), followed by $7.9 million on power supply upgrades, $6.2 million on dewatering systems, and $1.5 million on water supply improvements. Each upgrade directly addressed an operational limiter, from aging pipework that caused sump overflows to voltage-drop risks that threatened production continuity. The company’s technical team also redesigned the mine plan itself, consolidating decline access from four to three routes and introducing multi-lift open stoping to reduce both capital intensity and operating costs.
The ventilation story carries a caveat. The primary long-life-of-mine fan system installed in FY26 experienced bearing and coupling failures that limited output, forcing Westgold to procure and commission an interim solution ahead of schedule by month-end. This interim system delivers sufficient airflow for 2Mtpa over the next two years while the company works with the original vendor to repair or replace the failed system. The interim installation is described as temporary and destined for redeployment across Westgold’s wider operations once fixed, suggesting management confidence in resolving the technical issue without major re-engineering.
Beyond immediate production, the achievement of sustained 2Mtpa capacity feeds into Westgold’s broader expansion strategy for the Southern Goldfields region. The company plans to build a mined ore stockpile through FY27 to fully utilise Higginsville’s existing processing capacity of approximately 1.6Mtpa, creating operational flexibility and a startup buffer. Expansion studies on the Fletcher Zone and integrated Southern Goldfields pathway are underway, with a development financing study evaluating two scenarios: a new 4Mtpa processing hub near Beta Hunt or expansion of Higginsville to treat 4Mtpa of Beta Hunt ore. Both would increase total regional milling capacity to around 5.6Mtpa and unlock the next phase of mine expansion.
Investors should track the resolution of the primary ventilation system issues and monitor progress on the Fletcher Zone definition drilling, now supported by seven underground rigs. The completion of integrated expansion studies in Q3 FY27 will signal Westgold’s pathway to its next production step change. This announcement is price sensitive and has been designated as material by the ASX.
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About Westgold Resources Limited (ASX: WGX)
Westgold Resources Limited is an Australian gold mining company that explores, develops, and operates gold mines in Western Australia. The company operates mining facilities across the Murchison and Southern Goldfields regions and recently expanded its operations through the acquisition of Karora Resources. Westgold is listed on both the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX).
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