The Black Cat Syndicate has started work on bringing the mine and plant back into production.

It has ordered mill liners and lifters, two Knelson concentrators, and steel for tank and structural modifications. A liquid oxygen tank has also been secured.

The crushing circuit, which includes a primary jaw crusher, secondary and tertiary cone crushers, and a triple deck screen, has been run and proved, along with all the associated conveyors.

The leach and carbon-in-leach tank agitator motors and gearboxes have been successfully tested. Only one motor and one gearbox needed work and that work is planned for the March quarter.

The sump pumps within the gravity and leach areas have been tested and are operational.

Pump servicing will continue through the quarter.

Additionally, the process water, cyclone feed and leach feed pumps have been stripped ready for servicing.

Additional work planned for the March quarter includes:

• Mobilising a team of contract maintenance personnel and a 40t crane to help Black Cat workers complete specific work packages;
• Removing the two existing Knelson concentrators to speed up the installation time of the replacement units;
• Inspecting and, if necessary, removing the rubber-lined steel pipework within the grinding and gravity circuits; and
• Continuing to strip and rebuild or replace all the pumps throughout the processing facility.

The 128-person Paulsens village and camp remains well used with ongoing rental to third parties.

Black Cat managing director Gareth Solly said the team had systematically worked through the processing plant conducting maintenance work as well as making plans for future works.

"Work to date has been extremely productive with significant upside identified, particularly in the crushing circuit," he said.

"Long lead items have been, or are in the process, of being ordered.

"We are also starting to engage with mining contractors and equipment suppliers.

"Activities will progressively step up as our additional financing becomes available."

A restart study last year showed it would cost $34.3 million to refurbish the plant, restart underground mining and develop an open pit at Paulsens.

The underground mine is fully dewatered and ventilated.