Brightstar Resources (ASX:BTR) said that the updated definitive feasibility study for the development of the Goldfields project in Western Australia demonstrated that the shift to a consolidated Laverton processing strategy will allow for an improved production profile, mine life, and economics, according to a Thursday Australian bourse filing.

The study projected undiscounted pretax free cash flow of AU$1 billion, net present value at an 8% discount rate of AU$606 million, and an internal rate of return of 74% at an assumed base case of AU$6,000 per ounce. The firm added that it was mulling price protection strategies to underwrite this price assumption during commissioning and early revenues.

In this case, its C1 cash costs are expected to be AU$2,581 per ounce, and all-in sustaining costs are expected to be AU$2,998 per ounce.

The initial mine production was estimated to be around 9.4 million tonnes at a 1.7 grams per tonne grade of gold for 457,000 ounces recovered over six years.