with an availability of 98.2%. Works continued 
throughout the year to eliminate processing 
bottlenecks and maximise recoveries with the 
conversion of the Leach/Carbon-In-Pulp circuit 
to straight Carbon-In-Leach. 
The older Plant #1 continues to perform very 
well with an availability of 98.3% despite the 
replacement of a mill trunnion bearing, the first 
after 12 years of operation. Plant #1 achieved 
record processing throughputs after the installa-
tion of a second set of cyclones and cyclone 
feed pump upgrade. The original design was 
2.3 Mtpa and it is currently operating at 
2.9 Mtpa or 25% above design.
The combined plants are currently operating  
at 27% above design. A study was completed 
during the year that has identified the next best 
expansion opportunities with minimum capital 
expenditure. These opportunities are being 
assessed with plant upgrades aimed to continue 
to increase throughput into the future. 
Safety
Chatree achieved an enviable 10.5 year period 
representing 23.6 million man hours of opera-
tions and construction activity without a lost 
time injury. Management continues to be 
grateful to all of our employees and contractors 
for the attention to safety and care for each 
other - and without whom this notable achieve-
ment would not be possible.
In recognition of this achievement, and of our 
safety standards and emergency response 
preparedness, Chatree Mine received the 
‘Thailand National Occupational Health and 
Safety Award 2013’ on July 03, 2013 and also 
received the ‘Thai Zero Accident Gold Award 
2013’. 
During the year the operation and the Sydney 
office undertook a major incident exercise to 
test the sites management and rescue teams’ 
ability to respond as well as to test the 
Kingsgate corporate Crisis Management Plan.
 
www.kingsgate.com.au
Operations Report
16