Western Australia-focused gold producer, developer, and explorer Brightstar Resources (ASX:BTR) is not seeking any further acquisitions as it continues developing its Goldfields and Sandstone hubs.
Speaking at the RIU Explorers Conference in Fremantle today (18 February), Managing Director Alex Rovira says Brightstar’s current portfolio has been built from undertaking acquisitions and through targeted exploration.
“It’s been a wild ride in terms of that growth and building this business into where it is. As a business, we are focused in two different project areas, being the Goldfields hub and Sandstone hub,” Rovira says.
“For us, this portfolio has been brought about largely through M&A and a lot of targeted exploration. We’ve been very focused on genuinely acquiring and working on projects that are going to become mines. These project areas are on granted mining leases.”
Brightstar in November 2025 received court approval to acquire Aurumin, bringing together two complementary gold portfolios in Western Australia, delivering a combined landholding of approximately 1600km2 in the emerging Sandstone gold district. Law firm Allens advised Aurumin on the acquisition via scheme of arrangement.
Rovira says its projects have genuine operational synergies within the Goldfields and within Sandstone, citing confidence they will become mines in the near-term.
The company’s 100% owned Goldfields Project located in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia, 35km south-east of the town of Laverton has an updated Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS 2.0).
Released in January, DFS 2.0 includes a transition to a consolidated Laverton processing strategy with a larger throughput mill that enables an improved production profile, mine life and compelling economics and return on investment compared to the prior 2025-released DFS.
The scope of work comprises the design, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning of a 1.5Mtpa gold processing facility.
GR Engineering Services (ASX:GNG) has been appointed preferred contractor in relation to the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Laverton processing plant.
Rovira says an early works agreement has enabled GR Engineering to place critical long-lead time orders, such as the SAG mill, that will enable Brightstar to deliver into the production schedule outlined in the DFS 2.0, which targets first gold production in June quarter of 2027.
GR Engineering Managing Director Tony Patrizi says the $115 million EPC contract is subject to a final investment decision and finalisation of project funding, which are anticipated by late March 2026.
Mining.com.au is an official media partner of this year’s RIU, which is being held from 17-19 February.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Brightstar & Mining.com.au
