Name of the Project
15-Mile processing hub.

Location
Nova Scotia, Canada.

Project Owner/s
Australia headquartered St Barbara.

Project Description
St Barbara announced the results of the concept study for the integration of the project with a 15-Mile processing hub in May 2025.

St Barbara plans to consolidate operations in Nova Scotia, around a centralised processing hub at 15-Mile, counting on a capital-efficient redesign to deliver more than 1.2-million ounces of gold, with reduced environmental disturbance and stable output of more than 100 000 oz/y.

The concept study confirms that the optimal development approach is for the construction of a three-million-tonne-a-year processing plant, relocated from St Barbara’s Touquoy operations, at 15-Mile, with the addition of a new 5.5 MW ball mill to replace the existing 3.5 MW ball mill and one additional leach tank.

The concept study proposes mining all openpits across 15-Mile, and St Barbara’s Beaver dam and Cochrane Hill deposits using conventional drill, blast, load and haul. 

There are four openpits at 15-Mile – Egerton-Maclean, Plenty, Hudson and 149. 

Beaver Dam and Cochrane Hill each have only one openpit. Ore will be sourced from only 15-Mile until Year 4, when Beaver Dam ore mining and haulage starts. 

Cochrane Hill mining and haulage will start in Year 6.

Mill feed from the St Barbara’s Beaver dam and Cochrane Hill projects will be transported by road to the processing hub starting during the project’s fourth and sixth operating years respectively.

Estimated average gold production of about 106 000 oz/y is expected over the project’s 11-year mine life.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The concept study estimates a pretax net present value, at a 5% discount rate, of C$1.4-billion and an internal rate of return of 95%, with a payback on initial capital of one year.

Capital Expenditure
C$251-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
St Barbara expects to complete a prefeasibility study by the March quarter of 2026.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Ausenco Engineering Canada (concept study) and Moose Mountain Technical Services (mine design study).

Contact Details for Project Information
St Barbara, tel +61 8 9476 5555 or email info@stbarbara.com.au.