St Barbara Cleared to Restart Touquoy, 15-Mile Faces Review

St Barbara (ASX:SBM) reported that its Touquoy operation in Nova Scotia has cleared provincial requirements to restart ore processing, while a federal regulator has decided to require an impact assessment for its proposed 15-Mile Processing Hub Project.

The Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change confirmed on Friday 30 October 2026 that all prerequisite steps under the Touquoy Restart Industrial Approval amendments have been met. Mill refurbishment and tailings line construction has been completed, first ore processing is to occur with the official re-opening on 3 November 2026, and commissioning and operations are expected to ramp up over November and December. On the same day the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada determined that a Federal Impact Assessment will be required for the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project. St Barbara calls this duplicative. The agency says the assessment can be concluded in time for the targeted commencement of construction in mid-calendar 2028, and the proposed Bill C-39 seeks to legislate a 12 month limit for key federal reviews and approvals. As a contingency, St Barbara has commenced planning for permitting of a resumption of ore mining at Touquoy to extend gold production beyond the current scheduled calendar year 2027.

The release does not quantify any added cost or change to the 15-Mile timetable. St Barbara will meet both governments over the coming three weeks before deciding its next steps, and awaits advice on whether either will appeal the decision.