Vault Minerals to Implement Owner-Operator Model at KoTH Gold Mine from 2027
Vault Minerals has announced it will assume direct control of load-and-haul operations at its King of the Hills (KoTH) open-pit gold mine in Western Australia effective January 1, 2027, following the expiration of its current mining services contract. The company’s decision comes after a comprehensive review process, citing improved cost efficiency, enhanced cost control, and greater operational flexibility as primary drivers.
The transition aligns with Vault’s recent ore reserve upgrade at KoTH, which in May 2025 extended the mine’s life to 13 years. Vault will deploy an expanded fleet—including one 260-tonne and two 360-tonne excavators, supported by 190-tonne haul trucks—to accommodate a projected 35% increase in mining activity, with average annual material movement expected to reach approximately 14 million bank cubic metres. Stockpiles built during this period will also provide feedstock for the company’s Leonora operations for an additional five years.
- Ore reserve upgrade extends KoTH mine life to 13 years
- Transition to owner-operator model effective January 2027, pending contract expiry
- Vault Minerals, Western Australia, gold resource
