Valiant Gold has accelerated the restart program at its Comet Gold Mine in Western Australia's Murchison region, awarding contracts and placing orders for major infrastructure while the Comet Restart Study continues.
The company said favourable underground conditions observed during its July re-entry had given it confidence to advance power, ventilation, dewatering, accommodation, communications and safety workstreams in parallel. The approach is intended to shorten the pathway to restart readiness.
Major infrastructure packages committed
Valiant has engaged Silverstone Energy to supply a 6.1-megawatt site power station, with delivery and commissioning scheduled for the second quarter of the 2027 financial year. Underground substations, distribution equipment and dedicated starters for pumping and primary ventilation have also been ordered.
Primary ventilation equipment for the Comet and Pinnacles underground workings is on order for installation and commissioning in the same quarter. Permanent pumping equipment and supporting dewatering infrastructure are progressing, including a new discharge line from the pit floor to surface.
Camp, communications and safety work advances
Quick Camps has been awarded a contract for an initial 30-person accommodation camp. The facility is designed to scale first to 60 and then to 100 rooms, while its kitchen and mess will be sized for up to 100 people from the outset.
Valiant said surface and underground communications infrastructure had been installed and commissioned. Underground refuge chambers have been ordered, and pit-ramp, site-access and temporary workshop work is advancing alongside targeted rehabilitation planning.
Drilling and restart study targeted for Q2 FY27
A tender is under way for an underground diamond drilling contractor. The planned program will focus on grade control and resource definition from established underground platforms, with mobilisation targeted for the second quarter of the 2027 financial year.
The Comet Restart Study is also due in that quarter. It will consolidate the mine plan, execution requirements and sequencing, and provide the basis for a preliminary restart mining schedule.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Brendan Tritton said Valiant was moving forward with the critical site, infrastructure and technical work needed to return Comet to production.
Project snapshot
Comet is about 14 kilometres by road from Westgold Resources' Tuckabianna mill and has a reported Mineral Resource of 3.77 million tonnes at 2.51 grams per tonne gold for 304,000 ounces. Valiant reported that July inspections found generally dry workings, serviceable infrastructure and limited rehabilitation requirements in the first potential production areas.
Source: Valiant Gold ASX announcement, 2 September 2026. Hero image: Valiant Gold, Comet Gold Project.