Just a week after ASX-listed engineering group, Primero, became a substantial shareholder in unlisted, Gawler Craton-focused Barton Gold, Primero’s GM of Operations and Maintenance, Graham Arvidson, has accepted an invitation to sit on Barton’s board. Arvidson is a Mechanical Engineer whose fifteen years of mining industry experience will no doubt be put to use optimising Barton’s myriad of processing and mining options in South Australia.
Primero’s strategic plan is to collaborate on enhanced processing opportunities at Barton’s South Australian gold projects as Barton looks to scrub them up for production in the next year ahead of listing the company on the ASX.
Barton was formed to take control of a number of SA-based gold assets including the abandoned Tarcoola open pit, the Challenger underground mine with its mothballed mill and the undeveloped Tunkillia gold deposit.
Whilst Barton is majority-owned by boutique London and Perth investment firm, PARQ Capital, there are handfull of other smaller shareholders with Primero now leaping up the private company’s share register.
Primero is Barton’s preferred global services provider for the turnkey design, construction and operation of its mine processing infrastructure and Primero’s initial focus will be to get the Tarcoola deposit’s high-grade, open pit gold mine into production.
According to Barton, Mr Arvidson has defined and executed strategies at several complex processing operations that have delivered significant safety, cost, and production improvements including sustained production increases of greater than 40% at four plants. He has held key roles on multiple projects where ramp-up scheduling, capital costs and operating cost outcomes outperformed the feasibility study basis, according to the company.
Arvidson holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, a Masters in Mineral Economics and an MBA. He also holds a professional certificate in JORC Code reporting and he is also a Chartered Professional Engineer.
Barton is a little spoilt for choice across its three Gawler Craton focussed gold projects in South Australia with the old Tarcoola open pit set to spring back into production initially with the nearby Tunkillia project’s 558,000 ounce deposit also set to feature in the company’s planning when initial Tarcoola cash flows have been achieved.
At some point it may look to re-plan and re-start the old Challenger underground mine however that looks to be some way off with Tarcoola and Tunkillia presenting as better options for now according to Barton.
Commenting on the appointment of Mr Arvidson, Barton Gold Managing Director, Alexander Scanlon said: “Graham’s experience and skillset are highly complementary to the already strong technical, corporate, and financial markets experience of Barton’s team. As we previously noted he has a stellar track record and would be our choice to oversee multiple initiatives. As we continue to grow and evolve, Graham’s experience and advice will be invaluable not only in optimising plans, strategy and operations for our current assets, but also in evaluating and optimising other investment and development opportunities available to the Company.”
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By Matt Birney
