ASX-listed Wia Gold has confirmed that its Kokoseb project in Namibia can produce gold at a rate of 177,000 ounces per year, according to a scoping study published on September 30.
The study reveals an all-in sustaining cost of $1,265 per ounce for the operation.
The scoping study outlines an initial five-year production phase at 177,000 ounces (oz) per year before scaling down to 146,000 oz/year for the remainder of the project's 11-year mine life.
The project, which lends itself to simple open-pit mining and carbon-in-leach processing, shows strong financial metrics with an estimated after-tax net present value of $646-million and an internal rate of return of 38% at a gold price of $2,600/oz.
In a higher gold price environment of $3,450/oz, the project's economics improve significantly, with NPV jumping to $1.26-billion and IRR reaching 60%.
In either scenario, the payback period for the project is under two years.
The study also confirms Kokoseb's growth potential, noting the resource remains open at depth and along strike.
Wia currently has seven drill rigs operating for exploration and targets a maiden underground mineral resource estimate by mid-2026.
The company plans to lodge an environmental-impact assessment early next year, while work on a definitive feasibility study has already started, with publication expected in mid-2026.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor-In-Chief, Rough & Polished
