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West Wits has begun producing gold at its Qala Shallows mine in South Africa, but it is still developing the mine and associated infrastructure. The first gold pour came on March 17, 2026; the latest full operating figures in the available company updates are for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. That makes this an early-production and ramp-up story—not evidence of steady-state output.
What has happened at Qala Shallows?
Qala Shallows is Stage 1 of West Wits’ Witwatersrand Basin Project in Gauteng, South Africa. The milestones distinguish the start of mining from the start of gold production:
- October 2025: West Wits reported that underground ore had been delivered to surface.
- December 2025: The company formally opened Qala Shallows, with underground development continuing as it moved toward first gold.
- March 17, 2026: West Wits poured its first gold at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Ezulwini processing plant. The company reported 2.54 kg of gold produced in March from initial on-reef development ore.
First ore and first gold are different milestones: ore can be mined and stockpiled before it is processed and yields gold. West Wits’ April 2026 report said production activities were underway, with ramp-up, operational consistency, and scaling the wider project as immediate priorities. Mining Weekly reported the first pour; the company’s announcement index carries its project updates.
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For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, West Wits reported development work and gold deliveries continuing at the same time. These are quarter-end and year-to-date figures, not current daily production rates:
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| Measure | West Wits’ reported figure | Period or status |
|---|---|---|
| Underground development | 543 metres total: 375 metres on reef and 168 metres in waste | Quarter ended June 30, 2026 |
| Gold delivered from on-reef development ore to Ezulwini | 4.6 kg (148 oz) | Quarter ended June 30, 2026 |
| Gold production | 7.05 kg (227 oz) | Year to date through June 30, 2026 |
| Surface infrastructure completion | 45% | At June 30, 2026 |
The figures show why both halves of the description apply: underground development is advancing while ore is being processed and gold is being produced, and surface infrastructure was not yet complete at quarter-end. Mining Weekly’s June-quarter report gives the dated operating figures.
Does first gold mean the mine is at steady-state production?
No. A maiden pour demonstrates that gold has been produced; it does not establish that output has reached a stable, ongoing rate. West Wits’ April report described its task as converting early production into consistent, reliable output. The company’s executive leadership said: “Our immediate priority is to convert early production into consistent, reliable output that demonstrates operational stability, cost control and the ability to perform through the cycle.”
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The June-quarter production totals reflect gold from development ore delivered to the processing plant. They should not be read as a published steady-state production rate or as a forecast for later quarters.
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How does Qala Shallows fit into the wider project?
West Wits’ broader Witwatersrand Basin Project resource estimate, updated as at February 1, 2026, was 56.44 million tonnes grading 4 grams of gold per tonne for 7.24 million ounces. The estimate covers the Kimberley, Bird, and Main reef horizons; Qala Shallows is based on the Kimberley reef package, including K9A and K9B. These are resource figures for the wider project, not a statement of gold produced or recoverable at Qala Shallows. Mining Weekly’s September 2026 report describes the updated resource estimate and the disclosure decision on Project 200.
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The same September update described a 17-year life of mine for Qala Shallows. That is a study-based estimate, not a guarantee that the operation will run for that duration or deliver a particular amount of gold.
What is the status of Project 200?
Project 200 is part of West Wits’ wider growth plans, but its scoping study should not be treated as a published operating plan or financial result. After consulting with the ASX, West Wits decided not to release the study’s results to the market because it concluded that the study did not meet ASX requirements. The concern was the proportion of inferred resources included in the production target and the financial information derived from that target.
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The study reportedly used a 35-year mine-life model, but the company did not publish its results as market results. West Wits said it intended to continue studies and increase resource confidence before any future disclosure, as appropriate. The model’s duration is not an established operating outcome.
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What funding information has West Wits disclosed?
In its September 2026 project update, West Wits said Qala Shallows remained fully funded to steady-state production. The update listed a R875-million senior loan facility, a R150-million working capital facility, and a R90-million cost-overrun facility from Absa Bank and Nedbank. It also reported that the US$12.5 million Nebari bridge loan had been repaid in full and that cash was approximately A$32 million as at June 30, 2026. That cash figure is dated; it is not a balance for September or a later publication date. The update named Bara Consulting for the DFS update and Project 200 scoping study, and Sibanye-Stillwater for toll treatment at Ezulwini.
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What is not established by the latest figures?
The latest complete operating figures described here end on June 30, 2026. An announcement index lists a West Wits release dated October 7, 2026 titled “Qala Shallows Project Update and 2027 Outlook,” but the release text is not available in the cited material. Its specific outlook and later operating details therefore cannot be stated here. The June-quarter figures should not be mistaken for a current October operating update.
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