text: Nueva Esperanza Silver / Gold Project 
  The Nueva Esperanza Silver / Gold Project 
  advanced during the year with an initial scoping 
  study for a decision to mine the Arqueros and 
  Teterita portions of Nueva Esperanza completed 
  in late 2012. The study demonstrated that open 
  pit mining at two million tonnes per year and 
  processing by milling and agitation leaching in 
  cyanide was technically feasible although high 
  capital and power costs negatively impacted 
  project economic returns. 
  Exploration 
  The Group has a portfolio of exploration tene- 
  ments and applications in Thailand, Chile and 
  Lao PDR. Following the sale of exploration 
  tenements to Caravel (refer below), exploration 
  in Australia is currently only conducted in the 
  vicinity of the Challenger Mine in South Australia 
  and the Bowdens Silver Project in New South 
  Wales. 
  
  Total mill throughput for the year was 5.7 million 
  tonnes, 11.4% higher than 2012, despite the 
  impact of the 63 day delay during which Plant #2 
  was not operating. The overall plant availability 
  of 98.1% was slightly lower than the previous 
  year’s 98.4%. The expanded plant is operating 
  around 24% above the annual “nameplate” 
  throughput rate at 6.2 million tonnes per annum 
  and this is expected to continue. 