Saturn Metals Limited (“Saturn”), a gold exploration and development company, has selected Ausenco to deliver the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for its flagship Apollo Hill Project (“Apollo Hill”).
Located 650 km northeast of Perth in Western Australia, Apollo Hill comprises 27 highly prospective gold exploration and mining licences. Saturn recently completed a Pre‑Feasibility Study identifying a 10 Mtpa, 11‑year operation from a large-scale open pit, with a production target of 1.77 Moz gold using a conventional heap leach processing plant.
Heap leach processing is a well‑established and proven gold recovery method. Ausenco brings more than two decades of experience in designing, optimising, and building large-capacity crushing plants and heap-leach operations worldwide.
Ian Bamborough, Managing Director at Saturn Metals, said of the appointment, “We are pleased to award the contract for the Apollo Hill DFS to a company of the calibre of Ausenco. Ausenco’s expertise as demonstrated by its track record of success in developing first-class heap leach projects across the globe will be a real asset for Saturn. A firm grounding in the Australian engineering and construction environment makes Ausenco an ideal business partner as we take the next important step forward for Saturn towards the development of a large-scale, long-life gold project at Apollo Hill.”
Ausenco’s DFS scope includes the design and engineering of the full processing plant, incorporating crushing and heap leach operations, along with all supporting non-process infrastructure required to bring the project into development. This includes major site infrastructure - accommodation for up to 220 people, aerodrome, access roads, borefield development and other key mine facilities. The DFS will also incorporate a HAZID and risk assessment, and full OPEX and CAPEX estimates in accordance with AACE Class 3 standards, achieving an accuracy range of ±15%.
Reuben Joseph, Ausenco President – APAC/Africa, spoke highly of the project, “We’re proud to partner with Saturn as they advance this important project in Western Australia. Our team will draw on our global experience delivering process plants and heap leach operations, to support Saturn, unlocking the full potential of Apollo Hill. We are committed to shaping a reliable, low-risk and enduring gold operation.”
A key focus of the study will be refining the project’s designs to maximise value, reduce capital costs and optimise capital efficiency that will deliver the highest possible Net Present Value (NPV). The study will be led by Ausenco’s Perth office, working closely with Saturn and its partners to deliver the comprehensive DFS by late 2026.
About Ausenco
Ausenco is a global engineering, consulting and project delivery firm built for the minerals and metals industry. With three decades of global experience, we work alongside clients to navigate complex challenges from first study to final closure—across every phase, on five continents. Deeply rooted in the minerals and metals industry, our people combine technical depth, hands-on expertise, and hard-earned insight to deliver practical, forward-thinking solutions that reduce risk and unlock value. (www.ausenco.com).
Image: Apollo Hill Project, Image Sourced from Saturn Metals Limited.