Commencement of gold production scheduled for early 2027
Tolu Minerals is methodically rebuilding Tolukuma towards a targeted restart of gold production in early 2027. The completed access road from Port Moresby reduces logistics costs by over 75%, while the site's existing 220 ktpa CIL (Carbon-in-Leach) processing plant and hydro-electric power station are being refurbished to support a staged ramp-up to nameplate capacity. The updated Mineral Resource (Sep 2026) underpins the mine plan. The production restart remains subject to completion of infrastructure works.
PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
| Historically Recovered Grade | 14 g/t Au |
| Historical Annual Output | 55–85 koz pa |
| Plant Type | Modular, CIL |
| Ore Development Active | 1560 Level |
| Incline Commencement | Q1 2027 |
HISTORICAL PRODUCTION
Tolukuma historically produced circa 1 Moz gold and 1.9 Moz silver between 1995 and 2015, operating at grades of 15–20 g/t Au under Dome Resources and 12 g/t Au under DRD Gold. Annual production peaked at 87 koz Au. Tolu's restart strategy leverages the existing 220 ktpa CIL processing plant and underground infrastructure to target a return to full-scale production with lower operating costs via the newly completed access road.
Explore the ResourceRestart Milestones & Timeline
Q1 2026
Access road rehabilitation
The completed access road from Port Moresby cuts logistics costs by more than 75% and replaces helicopter transport entirely.
Q3 2026
Hydro Power Station
In progress. The site's own hydro-electric station is being restored — clean, low-cost power replacing the diesel that crippled the historic cost base.
Q4 2026
Refurbishment of 200 ktpa gold plant
Pending. Refurbishment is underway for a staged ramp-up to nameplate capacity — restoring a proven circuit, not building a new one.
Q1 2027
Gold Production Restart
Target. Initial production ramp-up expected.
Location & Infrastructure
Tolukuma Core Operations
Processing Plant
Modular CIL plant being upgraded for increased throughput and improved recovery rates. Gravity circuit captures coarse gold ahead of leaching. On-site smelting produces doré bars.
Workshop
Fully equipped mechanical and electrical workshop supporting underground fleet maintenance and surface plant repairs. On-site fabrication capability for custom tooling.
Hydro Plant
Run-of-river hydroelectric station providing up to 6 MW of clean baseload power. Twin Francis turbines, 33 kV transmission to mine grid, 24/7 SCADA-monitored generation.
Road to Moresby
Engineered all-weather haul road connecting the mine to the national highway and Port Moresby. Critical corridor for equipment, reagents, fuel, and gold shipment.
Helipad
Primary air-access point linking the mine to Port Moresby (~100 km). Certified for single- and twin-engine helicopter operations. Also serves as the emergency evacuation point.
Central Mining Zone Entrance
Central Mining Zone portal at the 1560 mRL providing primary access to all underground zones. Main entry for personnel, equipment, and ore haulage to the surface ROM pad.
Core Shed
Centralised core storage and logging facility with 4,600+ m of archived drill core. Equipped for geological logging, sample preparation, and dispatch to accredited laboratories.
Mining Camp
Purpose-built FIFO residential camp with mess, recreation, medical, and communications facilities. Expansion underway to support ramp-up workforce requirements.
Lower Portal Entrance
Secondary portal at the 1170 mRL, currently under twin-drive development. Will deliver gravity dewatering, new ventilation, dual egress, and access to the high-value Fundoot orebody.
Tailings Area
Engineered tailings storage facility with lined containment and progressive rehabilitation. Active water quality monitoring and compliant discharge. Regular independent dam safety reviews.
Location & Infrastructure
Tolukuma Core Operations
Processing Plant
Modular CIL plant being upgraded for increased throughput and improved recovery rates. Gravity circuit captures coarse gold ahead of leaching. On-site smelting produces doré bars.
Workshop
Fully equipped mechanical and electrical workshop supporting underground fleet maintenance and surface plant repairs. On-site fabrication capability for custom tooling.
Hydro Plant
Run-of-river hydroelectric station providing up to 6 MW of clean baseload power. Twin Francis turbines, 33 kV transmission to mine grid, 24/7 SCADA-monitored generation.
Road to Moresby
Engineered all-weather haul road connecting the mine to the national highway and Port Moresby. Critical corridor for equipment, reagents, fuel, and gold shipment.
Helipad
Primary air-access point linking the mine to Port Moresby (~100 km). Certified for single- and twin-engine helicopter operations. Also serves as the emergency evacuation point.
Central Mining Zone Entrance
Central Mining Zone portal at the 1560 mRL providing primary access to all underground zones. Main entry for personnel, equipment, and ore haulage to the surface ROM pad.
Core Shed
Centralised core storage and logging facility with 4,600+ m of archived drill core. Equipped for geological logging, sample preparation, and dispatch to accredited laboratories.
Mining Camp
Purpose-built FIFO residential camp with mess, recreation, medical, and communications facilities. Expansion underway to support ramp-up workforce requirements.
Lower Portal Entrance
Secondary portal at the 1170 mRL, currently under twin-drive development. Will deliver gravity dewatering, new ventilation, dual egress, and access to the high-value Fundoot orebody.
Tailings Area
Engineered tailings storage facility with lined containment and progressive rehabilitation. Active water quality monitoring and compliant discharge. Regular independent dam safety reviews.
Brownfield advantage
Refurbished access roads, the site's existing hydro-electric power station, and a modular processing plant are being brought back online. As a brownfield restart, Tolukuma benefits from substantial existing infrastructure —much of the heavy capital is already in the ground. New high-grade discoveries within the immediate mine envelope highlight opportunities for fast and efficient resource growth, shortening the path from drill bit to cash flow.
UPCOMING PROJECTS
A major twin-drive development is underway at the 1170 mRL portal — twin multifunctional underground drives that will deliver gravity dewatering, expanded void capacity for backfill, new primary ventilation pathways, and dual access/egress for enhanced safety. The drives also create underground exploration hubs with improved drill platforms, shorter drill distances, and materially lower per-metre drilling costs. Development blasting has commenced, opening access toward the high-value Fundoot deposit expected to contribute materially to first-year production.
Lower Portal Development
Tolukuma Incline & Gravity Dewatering
The twin incline to 1170 mRL provides a permanent, low-cost gravity dewatering solution that eliminates most pumping requirements. A fully dewatered mine increases backfill options, improves flexibility in the mining sequence, and unlocks access to deeper ore zones — significantly expanding mining capacity and enabling higher sustained production rates.
