A1 Minerals' (ASX: AAM) gold plant at the Brightstar gold project is now 77% complete, located 30km southeast of Laverton infrastructure and 15kms from the BrightStar Beta Resource. Refurbishment of the gold treatment plant is 97 per cent complete with site construction completion at 47.21%. Refurbishment work on the processing plant has been completed other than mine steel works and erection of the plant on site is on schedule. In the previous quarter, A1 raised $1.1 million in a quick share placement to fund the $1.7M treatment plant refurbishment contract with CPC Engineering. A1 took advantage of the global financial crisis to acquire the plant at a significant discount. John Williams managing director of A1 said construction of the tailings storage facility is expected to start before the end of next month. The mining tender process has commenced. Williams said preparations are underway for a plant commissioning ore parcel to start early November, and commencement of gold production in December 2009. BrightStar has an estimated 1.7Moz gold resource. The Resources include an ore reserve estimate of 150,000oz gold which is currently planned to be produced over 4 years, through A1’s own processing plant. Cash operating costs are estimated at AUD$600 per ounce. The project can generate an early cash flow due to high grade ore from surface.

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