Thank you for standing by. Welcome to the 29Metals Limited March Quarter Report Conference Call. All participants are in a listen-only mode. There will be a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. If you wish to ask a question, you will need to press the star key followed by one on your telephone keypad. I would now like to hand the conference over to Mike Slifirski. Please go ahead.
Thanks, Betsy. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We'll be speaking this morning to 29Metals March quarterly report, which was released to the ASX this morning. The call and parallel webcast is being recorded and will be available for replay via the 29Metals website and the Open Briefing website. 29Metals Managing Director and CEO, Peter Albert, will commence the call before passing to our Chief Operating Officer, Ed Cooney, to review operating performance and progress against 2023 priorities. He'll pass to CFO, Peter Herbert, to talk to the financial outcomes, Mark van Heerden, General Manager of Geology, to discuss the significant exploration results achieved during the quarter. Mark will pass back to Peter to manage Q&A. Thanks very much, Peter. Like to commence the presentation.
Yeah. Thanks, Mike, and thanks for the introduction. Welcome, everyone. Thank you for joining us this morning. In many respects, the March quarter was overwhelmed by the extreme weather event at Capricorn Copper. As outlined in our market updates in March and last week, this was a very significant weather event. I do want to recognize upfront the tremendous response from our site team, employees and contractors, for their professional, calm, and focused way in which they were able to ensure the safety of all of our people and protect the environment. At no time was there any consideration to a lesser outcome. Whilst the recovery task ahead of us is considerable, we remain focused on finalizing our plans to bring Capricorn Copper back online as quickly, safely, and environmentally responsibly as possible.
The scale of this event was particularly severe at Capricorn Copper, a function of the higher rainfall in the immediate vicinity area of the mine, which was significantly higher than some other mines in the region, as well as impacted by the topography of the mine site and the proximity of waterways swollen by this more than one in 200 year event. The extreme event has resulted in an additional 1.5 gigalitres of water being collected on-site, the equivalent of 600 Olympic-sized swimming pools. As I have said in other forums, 29Metals' investment in environmental protection measures over the past three years paid off. We had no uncontrolled release of water from regulated structures through the event. Safety performance across the group continues to be a key focus and as a result continues to deliver results.
Whilst our focus is on leading indicators such as critical controls, hazard identification, and leadership interactions, the results show up in our total recordable frequency rate, the TRIFR, and our lost time injury frequency rate, the LTIFR, both continue to fall with group TRIFR falling a fifth consecutive quarter to 8.1 last time injuries per million hours worked and the LTIFR down to 1.6. Indeed, at Capricorn, we achieved five months without a single recordable injury. The March quarter was always going to be a weaker quarter with production weighted to the second half of the year. Putting aside the Capricorn weather event, the results were broadly in line with our expectations.
At Golden Grove, copper production was higher quarter on quarter at 3,200 tons, with zinc production lower at 8,700 tons compared to the very significant zinc production in the December quarter, 2022. Capricorn Copper production for the two months of operation produced 2,600 tons. Both mines were impacted by reduced throughput due to tailing capacity constraints, which I'll address shortly. In terms of financial outcomes, Peter Herbert will discuss in greater detail, but a couple of highlights. Revenue of AUD 163.4 million being, Aussie dollars, being AUD 21 million lower than the prior quarter, impacted by the suspension of mining at Capricorn Copper in the early part of March. Lower site costs driven by lower activity levels, also impacted by the suspension of operations at Capricorn.
Maintained low leverage with unaudited net debt of AUD 34 million a quarter end and substantial liquidity, including a $40 million revolving credit facility, which remains undrawn. One of our key performance drivers for 2023 is a laser focus on costs, especially at Golden Grove, given the current situation at Capricorn. A dedicated corporate team is engaged with site teams to identify potential business improvements, including efficiencies as well as costs. While this is still in the early stages, engagement by all teams has been very positive and very encouraging. Peter Herbert will talk later to this in more detail, as well as providing some current examples. Other key performance drivers for the business, including ventilation, development rates, and tailings dam, were at regulatory approvals. Ventilation and development rates will be discussed later.
In terms of TSF approvals, we have worked closely with the regulators for both sites. For Golden Grove, I'm very pleased to confirm that approvals for the lift of TSF3, as it's noted, as it's called, were confirmed post the quarter end. The construction team is mobilized, and we look forward to lifting the constraint on mining rates in the current quarter. At Capricorn, while the extreme weather event and recovery planning is the highest priority, we are working closely and very proactively with the regulator and progressing that approval process. In terms of prices through the quarter, copper prices have been mostly stable during the quarter, ranging between $3.72, as at one point, up to $4.28 a pound, whilst zinc has ranged from about $1.30 - $1.59 a pound. All U.S., of course.
The outlook for copper demand and pressures on supply continue to persist. Whilst at 29Metals, we remain bullish and convinced that we're producing the metals that the world needs to achieve net zero goals. Our focus in any price environment is on delivering production and controlling costs. It goes to capital investment. Capital investment in sustainability and growth projects are our investments in our future. A number of key projects have been advanced in the March quarter, including a remote control mining system called AutoMine at Golden Grove, was implemented, which enables operation of underground loaders to continue during shift change. At both operations, work on the life of mine tailings storage facilities continued with the intent to submit approval documentation later in this year.
The new ventilation facilities at both sites have been progressed during the quarter, with one of the surface fans reinstated at Capricorn Copper and the other one being held in the supplier's workshop pending the restart at Capricorn. At Golden Grove, the high-level fans and the high-level ore body have been reinstated and operating. Fans for the Xantho Extended, the deeper Xantho Extended ore body are due for delivery and commissioning by the end of quarter two. During the quarter, we released the 2022 resources and reserve statement, resulting in Group Ore reserve tons increasing by 23% after depletion and an 18% increase in copper metal to 540,000 tons on reserves. Group mineral resources are up 4% after depletion, with an increase to 2.24 million tons of copper metal.
During the quarter, assay results were received from drilling activities at Capricorn Copper for Mammoth and Esperanza South. These were reported on the 12th of April. The Mammoth drilling results demonstrate a potential for a new mineralized trend not previously identified. At Esperanza South, drilling results continue to demonstrate the down plunge potential of this ore body. Staying with exploration in the quarter, Capricorn Copper was awarded AUD 200 government to undertake a combination of geophysical surveys. Mark van Heerden will elaborate and talk to this further in his section a little later. In terms of the longer-term outlook for both Capricorn and Golden Grove, an update on the Capricorn Copper status and recovering planning was provided to the market on the 20th of April, and the detailed planning remains work in process.
We have an intent to further update the market in mid-May. We also plan at the same time to provide the market with an update on the outlook for Golden Grove beyond 2023. Something to look forward to in the middle of May. At that, at this juncture, I'll now hand over to Ed Cooney, the COO, to talk in more detail about production activities at the two operating mines. As Mike said, Ed will then hand over to Peter to talk about financial and commercial outcomes. Lastly, we'll hear from Mark before we go to Q&A. Over to you, please, Ed.
Thanks, Peter, and good morning, everyone. Peter has talked to our improvements in safety metrics and the production outcomes for the quarter, so I might begin with progress against some of our key performance drivers. Starting with ventilation, an important project currently underway this year at Golden Grove is installation of two large underground booster fans. The purpose of the fans is to increase volumetric flows into the Xantho Extended ore body to enable higher mining activity levels. Good progress has been made during the quarter to excavate the fan chamber and progress fabrication of the fans. We are aiming to have the fans installed and commissioned late in the June quarter, and this will support higher mining activity in Xantho Extended during the second half. Staying with Golden Grove, development advances another important driver to increase production levels.
Total development of approximately 1,900 m for the quarter was consistent with that achieved in the December quarter. At Xantho Extended, we progressed the decline a further 130 m, established another fresh air rise down to the next sub-level, and completed total development in the ore body in excess of 400 m. Two key enablers to higher future development rates at Xantho Extended are the increased ventilation, as mentioned above, and the establishment of additional headings. We open up the new sub-level, these available development heading numbers increase. Another notable area of development activity during the quarter was in the a copper ore body, which is near to surface. That was undertaken in order to replenish available mining inventory from other ore sources depleted during 2022.
Two detractors to overall development performance relative to the December quarter were a planned four-day power outage trying to take maintenance activities of the site's incoming high voltage equipment and a temporary suspension of activity at Gossan Hill mine late in the quarter as a result of remediation to ground support required at the portal. During the temporary suspension, operations at the Scuddles mine continued uninterrupted. As Peter mentioned, the approvals for the proposed lift of TSF3 were confirmed post-quarter end. At 10, we anticipate submission of documentation later this year with regulatory approval processes and construction to follow. In terms of production outcomes at Golden Grove, mill throughput was constrained to manage the remaining tailings capacity. This, combined with the planned power outage, meant that ore tons milled was approximately 25% lower than the December quarter.
Copper feed grades were higher, while zinc and precious metal grades were lower, which contributed to recovery performance of the various metals. Moving on to Capricorn Copper, mining and processing volumes were heavily impacted by the suspension of operations in early March. Prior to the suspension, mining rates were lower than the December quarter as a result of continuing ventilation constraints at the sub-level cave in Esperanza South. Reinstatement in one of those fans has been successfully completed, with a second fan due to be repaired in the June quarter. Tons milled of approximately 200,000 tons was also lower than the December quarter, the result of the throughput rates constrained to 60% to manage for tailings capacity. Regarding the next lift of the Esperanza Tailings Facility at Capricorn Copper, engagement with the Queensland Department of Environment and Science has been very constructive.
The process has taken longer than we had anticipated, but through our engagement, the department has outlined further information request which we will respond to imminently. In parallel, studies on a life of mine tailings facility progressed, which when complete, will inform detailed design, planning and regulatory approvals. For the site team, the focus has clearly now shifted to recovery planning and managing water quality, reducing site water inventory, reinstatement of plant, and dewatering of Esperanza South ore body. As Peter mentioned, this remains a work in progress, with the intention being to provide the market with update in mid-May once the work has further progressed. I'll now hand over to Peter Herbert to discuss financial outcomes for the quarter.
Thanks, Ed, and good morning to everyone on the call. I'll start with revenue outcomes for the quarter. 29Metals unaudited revenues of AUD 163 million in the March quarter was a decrease of approximately 11% on the December quarter result. This is attributable to the suspension of Capricorn Copper operations in early March and lower mill throughput rates during the March quarter as we managed available tailings capacity. Despite the lower throughput rates, Golden Grove revenues were in line with the December quarter result, with higher copper revenues and lead precious metal concentrate sales offsetting lower zinc sales after a strong result in the December quarter. Turning now to costs.
29Metals group site costs for the March quarter were approximately AUD 30 million lower than the prior quarter, driven by lower activity levels, with reduced mining and processing activity at Golden Grove, including the impact of reduced milling rates and the suspension of activity at Capricorn Copper early in the March quarter. Our selling costs were lower by AUD 12 million, driven by lower TC, RC costs, reflecting a higher proportion of copper sales during the March quarter. Copper represented 57% of group revenues, up from 44% in the December quarter. Our C1 costs of AUD 61 million were AUD 5 million lower than the prior quarter, net of an AUD 9 million allocation to recovery costs recorded in the March quarter.
Group sustaining capital and capitalized development costs were AUD 8 million lower than the prior quarter, reflecting the timing of activity and the suspension of operations in Capricorn Copper partway through the quarter. AISC unit cost for the March quarter reduced by $0.21 to U.S. $4.13 a pound, reflecting lower site realization and capital costs, as just discussed, and higher copper sales, partially offset by lower by-product credits, particularly lower zinc sales and the impact of Capricorn suspension. Going forward, 29Metals will report costs associated with recovery works at Capricorn Copper separately. For the March quarter, Capricorn Copper site costs from the 1st of March to the 31st of March totaled $9 million and is shown as recovery costs. All other costs and capital amounts for the quarter are reported in a manner consistent with prior periods.
As Peter mentioned in his opening remarks, we have a significant focus on reducing costs and improving productivity in the business. Cost reduction initiatives commenced during the quarter and included identifying opportunities to reduce personnel on site, including the relocation of FIFO roles to Perth, where practical, reducing our underground fleet and personnel numbers through operating efficiencies, and secondments of Capricorn Copper personnel to fill roles currently undertaken by contractors at Golden Grove. Engagement with site personnel has been extremely encouraging, and we're in the process of evaluating and prioritizing ideas, with the benefits expected to accrue over 2023 and beyond. Turning now to the balance sheet. 29Metals finished the quarter with substantial liquidity comprising unaudited cash at March 31 of AUD 163 million and undrawn working capital facilities of $40 million.
Unaudited cash was after payments of $6 million in debt amortization during the quarter and positive working capital movements of approximately AUD 30 million, which are unwound early in the June quarter. On a net basis, the group had unaudited net debt of AUD 34 million at the end of the quarter, which was in line with the result as at 31 December. Stamp duty payable in connection with the acquisition of Golden Grove remains outstanding, and 29Metals maintains a AUD 26 million provision in relation to stamp duty. Thank you very much for your time. I'll now hand over to Mark to discuss exploration activity for the March quarter.
Thanks, Peter. In the March quarter, 29Metals conducted drilling activities at both Golden Grove and Capricorn Copper, with results reported from Mammoth and Esperanza South ore bodies. I would encourage everyone to review the full release dated April 12th for further information and additional disclosures. The key results from the Mammoth drilling program include UDMAMM22_ 110, which intersected 228 m at 1.2% copper, including 36 m at 3.9% copper. These results are within 310 m of current development at Mammoth and demonstrate significant potential for a new mineralization trend, which is currently open in all directions. Early interpretation of the trend suggests something independent to Mammoth itself, and though further drilling is required to better constrain the orientation of the mineralization, these early results are extremely promising.
Additionally, drilling at ESS yielded exciting results outside the existing mineral resources estimate, with key intercepts including 70 m at 2.8% copper, 26 grams per ton silver, and 1,080 PPM cobalt. Overall, these results demonstrate the significant continuing potential for organic growth and exploration success within our existing mine footprint at Capricorn Copper. In terms of the regional exploration, we conducted localized soil sampling over several gold and base metals targets at Golden Grove. While at Capricorn Copper, we were awarded a grant by the Queensland Government to complete a combined magnetotelluric ground gravity and ambient seismic survey over the southern extents of the Capricorn Copper mine site and the Esperanza South fault zone. This will give us a better understanding of the structural architecture controlling the mineralization and ideally give us a way to directly detect blind mineralization on a structure of interest.
If this proves to be the case, it has the potential to be expanded to other areas of known and prospective mineralization. We've also combined publicly available geochemical data with our in-house data set to prioritize areas for future field work regionally. Thanks for your attention. I'll now hand back to Peter Albert.
Yeah, thanks, Mark, and also thanks to Ed and Peter Herbert. let's see. We can now go to Q&A, please.
Thank you. If you wish to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. If you wish to cancel your request, please press star two. If you are on a speakerphone, please pick up the handset to ask your question. The first question today comes from Alexander Papaioanou from Citi. Please go ahead.
Hi, Peter and team. I might be jumping ahead, how are you thinking about mitigating the impact of future potential rainfall events at Capricorn Copper?
Thanks for the question. Well, as I endeavor to highlight in my opening remarks there, the investment that 29Metals have made in environmental protection over the last three years protected the site. There are other operations that didn't, hadn't, weren't able to protect their sites and indeed had unregulated discharge to the environment. We did not do that. This was a freak event, as somebody has termed it to me. Certainly, learnings from that process, from that outcome, which we will build into our future protection. The investment we had made paid off. That was, you know, really very significant in terms of our ability to protect the environment.
We're in good standing. We'll certainly look to improve upon that. Nonetheless, very positive outcome really, in the consequence of this event.
Yeah. What can we expect in May from the Golden Grove outlook? Will it include updates from Gossan Valley and Cervantes?
[audio distortion] outlook for Golden Grove in middle of May is to give the market investors and other stakeholders a view on the near term, mid-term future of Golden Grove and the ore bodies, of course, that feed into that. There will be a lot more detail coming out at that time. As we have described back in late last year, in terms of the studies, feasibility studies for Gossan Valley, that's obviously a key component of our future. Cervantes likewise is a very prospective ore body and, you know, it's a pre-feasibility at this stage, how that plays into the outcome. We'll, you know, we'll be putting all that out in mid-May.
Great. Thanks. I'll pass it on.
Once again, if you wish to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. The next question comes from Scott Jones with Ethical Mind. Please go ahead.
Good day, Peter, I've heard you refer to an embankment that was overwhelmed, which allowed water to flow into the subsidence zone of the cave, flooding Esperanza South. Which embankment was overwhelmed?
Well, hi, Scott. Thanks for the question. The Esperanza South ore body is a sublevel caving, and as a consequence of being a sublevel caving, it expresses to surface. There's an opening at surface. We had provided diversion structures around that opening to protect that opening. This one in 200+ year event overflow those embankments. It would have, frankly, been impossible to design otherwise, and that was the cause of the inflow of water to Esperanza South.
Yeah. Okay. The permanent mine diversion, has that actually been installed yet?
That the diversion structure is there as a temporary diversion structure, and that will be reviewed in terms of whether there's a potential to improve that. As I said, a one in 200 year event, Scott, was or plus that, which is more than likely very difficult to design for that sort of outcome.
The other final question, Peter. The issues with DES approving the next lift of the Esperanza tailings dam. What are the issues that DES has with our proposed lift?
It's just a process, Scott, that we are going through. They've been very proactive with us, indeed engaging with us in terms of, how, what information they're looking for, how it should be presented. Very positive engagement with them, to ensure that we have the best chance of a positive outcome, of which we are very confident. As Ed said, I think earlier, intention to submit that documentation imminently.
Right. Thanks for your answers, Peter.
The next question comes from Adam Baker with Macquarie. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Morning, Peter and Ed. Just wondering if I might be jumping the gun here a bit, given there's a update coming in May for Capricorn. Just wondering if you could guide to potential monthly care and maintenance costs for Capricorn in the meantime.
Yeah, probably jumping the gun, as you say, Adam. As in mid-May, we will, we'll be able to articulate and describe, you know, the path to recovery and the costs associated with that. So, yeah, not. We're putting all that work together now. Thanks for the question, as you say, a little bit jumping the gun there because we're in the throes of firming up all those outcomes.
No worries. All good. Then for Golden Grove, a bit of a soft first quarter starting to the year. Are you happy with guidance at this stage? Clearly, you've reiterated that. You know, is it gonna be second half weighted, and how's the June quarter looking?
Yeah, no, that's quite right, Adam, and that's what we had always described previously and reinforced in this sort of this statement today. The second half weighted the production for Golden. Well, obviously, we lowered guidance for Capricorn some weeks ago, so that's pretty clear. For Golden Grove always was going to be a weaker, softer, probably a better word, first quarter. No change to guidance outlook for Golden Grove as supported by the comments from Ed in terms of ventilation and development rates, et cetera. Confident of remaining within the guidance ranges that we had previously provided.
Great. I'll hand it on. Thanks, guys.
The next question comes from Ben Lyons with Jarden. Please go ahead.
Thank you. Good morning, everyone. Good day, Peter. Maybe firstly on Cap Copper, appreciate the detail on the release that recently hit the market. Just wondering if you can make any comment about your ability to actually discharge water from the site at this point. Obviously, evaporation rates have a natural constraint, and it sounds like the water treatment plant is the critical piece of kit on site. Reading the recent release, it sounds like there might actually be some significant damage to that water treatment plant. Yeah, first question, can you discharge water, and what's the extent of the damage on the water treatment plant? Thanks.
Second part of the question first, Ben, and thanks for the question. We assume, w ell, the water treatment plant sits within the workshop warehouse area, so that's got significant water and flooding in that, in that environment. And we're assuming at this point in time that that won't be available to us, at least in the short, medium term. Our water strategies, management strategies don't rely upon the water treatment plant for recovery. That's the first point. As to its ability to be recommissioned is a question we don't have the answer to yet until we can get in there and really understand what damage there may be.
In the meantime, in terms of your first part of your question, again, more detail to follow later, but sufficient to say that, you know, the, right now we don't have an ability to discharge to the creek. The flows in that creek are now down to very low levels. Our key priorities are twofold. One is to clean up the water that we have on site, that 1.5 gigaliters, to clean up parts of that water, put it into areas where we can discharge it in a clean fashion into the environment. Into the creek, and or to evaporate. Indeed, we are extending and expanding our evaporation capacity at the site and making quite a big impact as a result of that.
We're looking at water treatment options. That's well advanced in terms of how we treat the water and then how we potentially release it. We are working with the regulator on all of those aspects. You know, they've been in a bit of color, I suppose, been very supportive. We've actually done very well in terms of protecting the environment. We've got good recognition for that. They're working with us positively in terms of how we overcome and recover the situation at Capricorn.
Okay. Thanks, Peter. That's helpful. Maybe staying with Cap Copper. Again, just trying to read between the lines. It sounds like you're still being unable to access the Esperanza South ore body at this point. However, you have been able to make an estimate of the extent of the water ingress into the cave. Just wondering if you're able to make any comment around the extent of the underground damage to the infrastructure. You know, for example, have you been able to use, you know, remote access techniques, for example, to make a preliminary estimate of, you know, what potential ground support damage there is, you know, damage to your ventilation, your pumps, et cetera, et cetera? Thank you.
Yeah. Thanks, Ben. Yes, well, we have been able to get into Esperanza. We have access into Esperanza down, of course, to where the water is, so we're monitoring that all the time. We obviously can't assess conditions beyond that. And it's flooded, so it's not possible to do that. As we start to extract that water from Esperanza, we'll be able to assess that damage. We've certainly made some assumptions and talked to others in the industry who may have experienced similar events. We've got some concept of what we may be dealing with. What was the other part of your question there, Ben? What was the other part?
No, you've pretty much covered it. Yep.
Okay. Yeah.
Okay. Thanks. Maybe leaving Capricorn Copper for now and just moving across to Golden Grove. Some positive commentary from both yourself and Ed there with reference to development rights at Xantho Extended. Does this increase your confidence about accessing more ore towards the back end of this year and certainly into calendar 2024? Obviously there'll be a net positive overall grade impact for the operation, the more material you can extract from Xantho Extended.
Yeah, that's right, Ben. Your latter comment in terms of, you know, more higher grade coming, more metal coming with more tons from Xantho Extended. In terms of confidence, look, yes. I mean, you know, we are still developing, you know, the upper areas, and progressively additional sublevels. As we open up more and more sublevels, obviously, you get more flexibility, more development fronts, more stopping fronts, and more production tons will follow. As I did mention, though, you know, a key project, a key enabler for that is the additional ventilation in terms of volumetric flows that will come from commissioning of the booster fan. We are very focused on completing that, the excavation of that chamber, the civils, receiving the fans and successfully commissioning them this quarter, towards the back end of this quarter.
That will set us up nicely for the second half.
Thanks very much, Ed. That's really helpful. Maybe final one for Peter Herbert. I think you made some comments around there was an unwind of the working capital, which assisted the balance sheet situation at 31 March. It sounds like that was layered back onto the balance sheet early in the quarter. Can you possibly just make any further comments around that issue and, you know, where the current balance sheet settings may sit? Thank you.
Yeah, sure. Sure, Ben. It really just timing of payments. Some of the payments tend to be relatively chunky in this business, as I'm sure you appreciate, and some of them fell after the end of the quarter, and we just wanted to give as much clarity around that as we could. There's really not much more to it than that.
Okay. Any further word from the guys that collect the stamp duty or just keeps getting kicked out at this point?
Well, I mean, I probably wouldn't use the word keeps getting kicked out. We just haven't heard much. You know, that's, that is what it is. We just continue to monitor the situation, but there's nothing to update in respect of that at this stage.
Okay. Thanks, Peter. No, no need to alert them to the fact. Thanks very much. I'll pass on.
Thanks, Ben.
There are no further questions at this time. I will now hand the call back over to Mr. Albert for any closing remarks.
Thanks, Betsy. Just making sure there's no further questions. All right. I'll just look at Mike. We're okay. All right. Thanks everybody. Thanks for all the good questions there. Thanks, Ed, Peter and Mark, for your presentations. The March quarter, of course, was pretty challenging for 29Metals, but I do take satisfaction with how the team has responded to the unique set of conditions we've experienced, especially at Capricorn. We have, of course, been frustrated with the time to secure approval, specifically for tailings facilities at both sites. Of course, again, very pleased to have received the Golden Grove tailing system storage facility approval recently. And at Capricorn, and we discussed this in the Q&A just now.
Very encouraged by the positive engagement we are having with the regulator in Queensland on both the tailings approval as well as their support and understanding during the extreme weather event. Whilst production in the quarter has been softer, as we had anticipated, we have made good progress on our key performance drivers, including ventilation, the focus on development, engaging with the regulators, and advancing the life of mine tailing solutions for both operations and realizing a cost and efficiency improvement initiatives, especially at GG. With that, we'll see the benefit of that through the course of this year and beyond, as Peter has said. Rightly, our immediate focus is on addressing the operational challenges resulting from the extreme weather event at Capricorn and lifting performance at Golden Grove.
We're not taking our eye off the longer-term opportunities, which are compelling, including advancing our planning for Gossan Valley. That was a question earlier on, I think. cobalt studies at Capricorn and continuing the seriously impressive exploration programs at Capricorn. Thank you, everybody, for listening to us today and being part of this presentation. Have a good day. Thank you. Thanks, Betsy.
That does conclude our conference for today. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect.