Since acquiring the world-class St Ives operation in Western Australia from WMC Resources Ltd, Gold Fields Ltd has injected about 60 million dollars into exploration and spent another 125 million dollars constructing a new mill to increase production to 600,000 ounces per annum. The company has also committed a further 25 million dollars into its search effort for the coming year. Commissioning of the new milling complex is on track for next month and will see capacity climb from 3.2 million tonnes pa to 4.5-5 Mtpa. The old mill will be decommissioned in March next year. Apart from direct treatment cost reductions, the new plant complex has the advantage of being better sited relative to the open pits and underground mines which will realise haulage and ore re-handling cost savings once commissioned. Underground mining activity is currently focused on Junction, Argo, East Repulse and Sirius. The Junction underground mine, previously St Ives biggest contributor, is due to wind down in April of next year.
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