Brightstar Resources has selected GR Engineering Services (GRES) as the preferred engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor at the Goldfields processing plant near Laverton.
This decision follows a competitive front-end engineering design completed in December last year.
The plant, which will have a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), is set to be built under the EPC contract, contingent upon a final investment decision (FID) and contract execution.
An early works agreement (EWA) has been signed to facilitate the ordering of long-lead items such as the SAG mill and variable speed drive, alongside continued engineering efforts and operational readiness activities.
Brightstar aims to make the FID by late March 2026, with construction expected to start soon after under a fixed-price EPC contract, targeting first gold production by June 2027.
Debt financing processes are progressing, with completion expected in March 2026.
Projected cash flows from the Goldfields Project are expected to fund further development at Sandstone, in line with Brightstar's goal of producing more than 200,000oz of gold per year in Western Australia (WA).
Funds raised through equity will expedite growth plans at Sandstone, with a pre-feasibility study and initial ore reserve anticipated by September 2026.
The company has charted a course for growth from a modest-scale miner to an independent WA gold producer with significant expansion prospects.
Key developments in this pathway include the release of 'DFS [definitive feasibility study] 2.0' in January 2026 and an equity raising announced in February 2026 to secure funds for the Goldfields Project.
Brightstar has also lodged a mine development and closure proposal and works approval for the processing plant and associated infrastructure, and improvements to accommodation facilities at Fish/Lord Byron mine camp have been completed.
The next steps involve detailed mine planning for early sources such as the Lord Byron open-pit and Yunndaga underground mines.
Additionally, Brightstar plans brownfield exploration programmes aimed at extending mine life through targeted growth around existing deposits.
Upon receipt of necessary approvals and finalisation of debt financing, Brightstar expects to declare a formal FID.
Brightstar managing director Alex Rovira said: “The engagement of GR Engineering under our EWA and as our preferred EPC contractor ensures sustained momentum for the development of our Laverton processing plant and is another important milestone in de-risking the near-term development of our Goldfields Project.
“GRES’ detailed involvement in previous projects within close proximity to the Laverton processing plant location makes it ideally placed to move quickly into project implementation and to deliver a de-risked project.”
Last month, Brightstar secured approval from WA’s Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration for the mining development and closure proposal concerning the Lady Shenton open pit.
