Following a record 2024–25 financial year (FY25) performance, Westgold Resources has unveiled its gold production guidance for FY26.
The company is forecasted to produce 345,000–385,000 ounces (oz) at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $2600–$2900/oz.
A total of 330,000–355,000oz is expected to be produced from Westgold’s assets and approximately 15,000–30,000oz from the company’s processing of purchased ores.
Westgold’s group production is back-end weighted to the second half of FY26 due to the timing of the ramp ups at the Bluebird-South Junction and Great Fingall mines and from ore sourced from third parties.
In the Murchison region of Western Australia, the Fortnum processing hub’s milled grade is expected to increase through ore from the Starlight underground mine and the Galaxy and Nightfall zones within the Starlight complex.
The Bluebird processing hub’s milled grade is also expected to lift due to run-of-mine (ROM) stocks build and higher-grade ore sources being projected to displace lower grade stocks.
The milled grade at the Tuckabianna processing hub is anticipated to remain consistent, with increasing outputs from the lower grade upper cave at the historic Big Bell mine, offsetting a planned reduction in mined output from the higher-grade lower cave.
In the southern Goldfields region of WA, Westgold will continue to optimise the Higginsville processing hub. The hub’s milled throughputs and grades are projected to raise as ROM stocks build and greater volumes of higher-grade ore from the Beta Hunt and Two Boys mines are processed.
Beta Hunt is expected to unlock higher productivity and support a ramp-up towards a two-million-tonnes-per-annum mining rate for Higginsville.
“Westgold is now leveraging our expanded scale and continuing to optimise our largest mines and mills for grade and enhanced free cash flow in FY26,” Westgold managing director and chief executive officer Wayne Bramwell said.
“Consistency in delivery is key – driven by continued investment in drilling, improving operational efficiency and prudently allocating capital where it delivers the greatest return.
“This strategy is already bearing fruit with a $132 million treasury build in (the fourth quarter) and FY25 closing on a record $364 million in cash, bullion and investments.”
Westgold also plans to spend $270 million on its growth projects – Bluebird-South Junction, Great Fingall, and Starlight – in Murchison in FY26, as well as $50 million on exploration activities and resource definition.
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