Peak processing plant cleared to lift throughput to 1.2Mtpa

14 August 2026 | Peak Operation, Cobar Basin, New South Wales

Aurelia Metals has secured the final regulatory approval needed to operate its Peak processing plant at an expanded throughput rate of 1.2 million tonnes a year.

Cobar Shire Council approved an increase from the plant’s current rate of about 800,000 tonnes a year, giving Aurelia approval for a 50 per cent lift in processing capacity at the western New South Wales operation.

The higher rate is enabled by a group of projects covering tailings and water management, a tertiary ball mill, and expanded crushing and materials handling.

Expansion work already under way

Aurelia said the processing expansion is well advanced. A new tailings thickener was commissioned in June 2026, while commissioning of the tertiary ball mill is expected in the first quarter of FY27.

Planning for the crushing and materials handling expansion is continuing in line with the wider ramp-up across the company’s Cobar Basin operations.

Peak treats ore from several underground mining areas and is also the processing destination for ore from Aurelia’s Federation Mine. The company is progressing the Great Cobar high-grade copper development at Peak.

Why it matters

The development consent removes the final regulatory constraint on operating the plant at the higher rate. It aligns approved capacity with Aurelia’s plan to increase mining and processing rates across its regional asset base.

For the local mining supply chain, the milestone supports a continuing program of plant commissioning, materials-handling work, mine ramp-up and operational readiness. The announcement does not specify new positions, but the scale of the expansion is relevant to future workforce planning across processing, maintenance, projects and production support.

Next steps

Near-term work will focus on completing and commissioning the tertiary ball mill, advancing the crushing and materials handling project, and integrating the expanded plant capacity with the broader Cobar Basin ramp-up.

Aurelia will also need to demonstrate sustained performance at the higher permitted rate as the upgraded components move from project delivery into operation.

Source: Aurelia Metals Limited, “Peak Processing Plant Throughput Expansion Approved”, 14 August 2026.