Strategic Development of the Stage 5 Pit at Kidston

The originally estimated mine life at Kidston (starting 1984) was 12 years. Through a continuing process of re-evaluation and improvement in the operation and by expanding the geological knowledge in the region, the mine life has been considerably extended. With falling grades and harder ore, the additional reserves have come with increasing risk - not only in an economic sense associated with diminishing profit margins but also operationally, requiring innovative milling technology and geotechnical designs to provide a lower cost environment for continued profitable mine production.