Kanmantoo Shatters Records: Copper Bonanza Signals Hillgrove's Ascendance
- 10-Mar-2025 9:30 PM
- Journalist: Jacob Kutchner
Hillgrove Resources has ignited the Australian mining sector with a stunning February 2025 triumph at its Kanmantoo Copper Mine in South Australia. Breaking all previous benchmarks, the mine delivered an unprecedented 1,105 tonnes of copper, a feat that not only eclipses all prior monthly outputs since underground ore processing commenced in February 2024 but also sends a resounding message of operational mastery and strategic foresight.
The sheer scale of this achievement is underscored by the meticulous execution that underpinned it. Processing 116,000 tonnes of ore at a robust 1.01% copper grade, coupled with an extraordinary 94.2% recovery rate, the Kanmantoo team defied the constraints of a shorter February, turning what could have been a bottleneck into a testament of their unwavering commitment to efficiency. This remarkable performance translates to around 2.9% surge over January's already impressive 1,074 tonnes, and a substantial leap from the December 2024 quarter's 884-tonne average, painting a vivid picture of a mine on an explosive growth trajectory.
Behind this surge is Hillgrove’s dynamic CEO, Bob Fulker, whose celebratory tone was laced with strategic insight. "The exceptional operational delivery in daily mining and development rates is a direct result of our relentless pursuit of improvement and debottlenecking," Fulker stated, revealing the company’s proactive approach to optimizing every facet of the mine. This relentless focus on refining processes has yielded tangible results, transforming Kanmantoo into a powerhouse of production.
Adding fuel to this momentum is the accelerated development of the Nugent deposit, a strategic linchpin in Hillgrove’s expansion plans. Fulker's confidence in the mine's future is palpable. "We are unequivocally confident that mine performance will continue to escalate, as we aggressively advance the Nugent project," he emphasized. This bold declaration is backed by a bullish outlook for 2025, with production targets set between 12,000 and 14,000 tonnes of copper. The promise of further growth in 2026, as Nugent’s development gains momentum, solidifies Kanmantoo’s pivotal role in Hillgrove’s long-term strategic vision.
The Kanmantoo Mine's substantial mineral resources, boasting 19.3 million tonnes at 0.77% copper, and ore reserves of 2.8 million tonnes at 0.91% copper, highlight the mine’s inherent potential and the company's astute strategy to maximize its value. Hillgrove's unwavering focus on innovation and performance enhancement positions it as a formidable player in the copper market, offering a compelling narrative of sustained growth and value creation.
This record-breaking February is more than just a fleeting success, it's a powerful indicator of Hillgrove's strategic prowess and operational excellence. As the company continues to push boundaries and redefine expectations, the future of Kanmantoo and Hillgrove shines brighter than ever, promising substantial returns for stakeholders and a significant contribution to the global copper supply.