Latest news with #SAG

Mercury
9 hours ago
- Business
- Mercury
CEL moves closer to early cashflow
Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. Special Report: Challenger Gold is on track to realise its plans to toll treat gold ore from its Hualilan project in Argentina after Austral Gold said refurbishment of its Casposo plant is progressing to plan. Challenger Gold on track to start Hualilan toll treatment plan that will deliver robust cashflow Refurbishment of Austral Gold's Casposo plant progressing to plan with commissioning in August Cashflow from toll treatment to fund plans for standalone development at Hualilan The Hualilan project in San Juan is the subject of a three-year toll milling strategy that could deliver estimated EBITDA of A$136 million, a post-tax NPV of US$50.5 million, and cumulative post-tax-free cash flow of US$56.7 million using conservative spot prices of US$2500/oz for gold and US$27.50/oz for silver. Using a gold price of US$3300/oz, which is a little less than US$30 below spot prices, this EBITDA increases to A$221 million. The company will capitalise on the current high gold price to generate early cash flow. What makes this even more lucrative for Challenger Gold (AX:CEL) is that this potential for robust returns is based on just 3% of the current 2.8 million ounce resource at Hualilan. This toll treatment strategy outlined in a pre-feasibility study requires an upfront capital investment of just US$8.9 million with payback within three months. Watch: Met test success paves way for broader gold development Austral plant Central to this plan is the use of Austral Gold's (ASX:AGD) Casposo plant that is 165km away via sealed road. AGD has now said that commissioning of the plant remains on target for August 2025 with the majority of Q2 key activities having wrapped up and the remaining tasks in progress and on track for completion in early August. So far, the primary crusher refurbishment has been completed and is ready for operation. Installation of a sampling tower is currently underway in this area to improve grade control of the material to be sourced from Hualilan. The SAG mill relining is underway and expected to be wrapped up with recently arrived materials, while the SAG engine repair (part of the grinding circuit) is also finished. Installation of new hydrocyclones is underway and awaiting the vendor's delivery date, while the repair of engines and reducers for leaching tanks and the counter current decantation have also wrapped up. The filter band refurbishment is underway and modifications and improvements to the piping and ducts have also now completed. This will allow for toll processing of Hualilan material to begin in November 2025, which is in line with CEL's schedule. Toll treatment will see the processing of at least 450,000t of near surface Hualilan material for more than three years. Cashflow from the agreement will be allocated towards the construction of the larger stand-alone Hualilan gold project, which boasts a high-grade core of 1.6Moz at 5g/t gold. This article was developed in collaboration with Challenger Gold, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions. Originally published as Challenger Gold closer to Hualilan toll milling with Casposo plant refurb on track
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Austral Gold Provides Update on Casposo Plant Refurbishment
Casposo Plant refurbishment steadily advancing and nearing completion Commissioning targeted for August 2025 Commercial operations on track to commence during second half of 2025 Sydney, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 29, 2025) - Austral Gold Limited (ASX: AGD) (TSXV: AGLD) (OTCQB: AGLDF) ("Austral" or the "Company"), an established gold producer, is pleased to provide an update on the refurbishment of its 100% owned Casposo Plant, following the previous update release on 30 April 2025. Austral Gold's Chief Executive Officer, Stabro Kasaneva, said: "We are pleased with the progress on the refurbishment of the Casposo Plant in Argentina, with commissioning targeted for August 2025. In parallel, our independent consultant continues to advance a technical report prepared that complies with NI 43-101 and JORC 2012 standards to assess the feasibility of processing Casposo's own mineralised material. We remain on track to commence toll processing in November 2025 under the Toll Processing Agreement ("the Agreement") with ASX-listed Challenger Gold." Refurbishment Plant Overview Most of the key activities scheduled for Q2 2025 have been completed, with the remainder underway and expected to be finalised in the first half of August, ahead of commissioning. Status of Q2 2025 planned activities: Primary crusher refurbishment: Completed (Figure 1). SAG mill relining: Underway; expected to be completed with recently arrived materials. SAG engine repair: Completed (Figure 2). Installation of new hydrocyclones: Underway; awaiting vendor's committed delivery date. Engines and reducers for leaching tanks and CCD's repair: Completed (Figure 3). Filter band refurbishment: Underway; all purchased materials received. Modifications and improvement of piping and ducts: Completed. Figure 1: Primary Crusher (Area 100). The Primary Crusher has been completed and is ready for operation. Installation of a sampling tower is currently underway in this area to improve grade control of the material to be sourced from the Hualilán Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Figure 2: SAG Mill (Area 200). The SAG mill engine, part of the Grinding Circuit, has been repaired, and the inching system was successfully tested. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Figure 3: Leaching Tanks (Area 300). The engines and reducers for the leaching tanks and CCDs have been repaired. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Main works planned before Commissioning: Finalise SAG mill relining and complete its full installation. Complete Installation of new hydrocyclones. Finalise Filter band refurbishment. Complete testing of the Plant's electrical circuits. In addition, the Company is progressing well with its recruitment efforts, with 55 employees currently on board. During August, the workforce is expected to increase by approximately 61 employees, bringing the total headcount to 116. As part of its commitment to local engagement, the Company delivered a targeted three-day training program in the Calingasta Village, aimed at identifying potential candidates and supporting the development of a skilled local workforce for plant operator roles. Figure 4: Training Course in Calingasta Village to recruit local plant operators. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: About Austral Gold Austral Gold is a growing gold and silver mining producer building a portfolio of quality assets in the Americas based on three strategic pillars: production, exploration and equity investments. Austral continues to lay the foundation for its growth strategy by advancing its attractive portfolio of producing and exploration assets. For more information, please visit the Company's website at Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Release approved by the Company's Chief Executive Officer of Austral Gold, Stabro Kasaneva. For additional information, please contact: David Hwang Jose Bordogna Joint Company Secretary Chief Financial Officer and Joint Company Secretary Austral Gold Limited Austral Gold Limited david@ +61 433 292 290 +61 466 892 307 Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this announcement that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this announcement include statements regarding our expectations for the refurbishment of the Casposo Plant in Argentina, our independent consultant continues to advance a technical report prepared that complies with NI 43-101 and JORC 2012 standards to assess the feasibility of processing Casposo's own mineralised material, the projected increase of approximately 61 employees at Casposo during August 2025, and our expectation that we can continue to lay the foundation for our growth strategy by advancing our attractive portfolio of producing and exploration assets. All of these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied, including, without limitation, uncertainty of exploration programs, development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the capital markets, uncertainty in the measurement of mineral resources and reserves and other risks and hazards related to the exploration of a mineral property, and the availability of capital and a skilled workforce. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Austral's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit


NZ Herald
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
‘Disturbing': Mrs Doubtfire star's wild plan to revive Robin Williams with AI
The idea came to Lawrence after watching one of Williams' old commercials. The actor, who died by suicide in 2014 at age 63, had done a computerised voiceover that Lawrence found eerily before its time. 'It's kinda like this very contemporary, modern, almost sort of foreshadowing of what's going on commercial that he did, where he did this computerised voiceover,' he said. 'And it always stuck with me. And then, during his passing, with the AI coming out, I'm like, 'Man, he's gotta be the voice of AI He's gotta be the voice in something.' So yeah, I would love to do that.' There's no denying Williams' voice is instantly recognisable. Hearing it again would likely spark nostalgia and joy for many. Still, using AI in a project like this raises serious concerns. Lawrence, clearly enthusiastic, suggested plenty of possibilities for Robin's voice in tech – even using it for driving navigation. 'It would be Robin!' Lawrence said. 'It would be so cool. I'm telling you.' Yelling at Siri or Alexa when you miss a turn is normal these days. But yelling at the voice of Robin Williams might come with some follow-up guilt. Williams' daughter, Zelda Williams, has publicly slammed AI recreations of her father. During the SAG-AFTRA strike in October 2023, she posted a statement on social media expressing her discomfort with the technology. 'I am not an impartial voice in SAG's fight against AI,' Zelda, 35, wrote. 'I've witnessed for YEARS how many people want to train these models to create/recreate actors who cannot consent, like Dad.' 'I've already heard AI used to get his 'voice' to say whatever people want and while I find it personally disturbing, the ramifications go far beyond my own feelings,' she continued. 'Living actors deserve a chance to create characters with their choices, to voice cartoons, to put their HUMAN effort and time into the pursuit of performance.' Lawrence was just a pre-teen when he played Williams' son in 1993's Mrs Doubtfire, and their relationship clearly made a lasting impression. At the first annual '90s Con in 2022, Lawrence shared how Williams – who struggled with substance abuse – warned him about the dangers of drugs during filming. '[Williams] was very serious. He was like, 'You know when you come to my trailer and you see me like that?'' Lawrence shared. 'He's like, 'That's the reason why. And now I'm fighting for the rest of my life because I spent 10 years doing something very stupid every day. Do not do it.' I stayed away from it because of him.' In an earlier interview with Entertainment Weekly, Lawrence reflected on two key lessons Williams taught him: the importance of compassion, and not judging others without walking in their shoes. 'He really quantified what it was to be a real artist for me in the sense that he was definitely,' Lawrence said, 'and I worked with some great people, and he was definitely the most brilliant artist I've ever worked with.'


The South African
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
The REAL names of Hollywood's biggest stars revealed
In the dazzling world of Hollywood, stars often craft not only their careers but also their identities. For many, this includes adopting a stage name that is more memorable, marketable, or simply easier to pronounce than their birth name. From action heroes to award-winning icons, some of the most recognizable names in entertainment are not the ones these celebrities were born with. Whether for privacy, branding, or to avoid confusion with others in the industry, these name changes have helped define their public personas. One of the most famous examples is Brad Pitt, whose real name is William Bradley Pitt. Similarly, Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, and Vin Diesel began life as Mark Sinclair Vincent. For some actors, stage names were necessary to stand out or avoid duplication within Hollywood's Screen Actors Guild (SAG), which does not allow two performers to register with the same professional name. This led Michael Keaton to change his name from Michael John Douglas, avoiding confusion with fellow actor Michael Douglas. Music and comedy stars have also embraced pseudonyms. Jamie Foxx, originally Eric Marlon Bishop, chose a gender-neutral name early in his stand-up career to increase his chances of being called on stage. Whoopi Goldberg, born Caryn Elaine Johnson, adopted her now-iconic name from a combination of a whoopee cushion (for her comedic timing) and her family's belief that a Jewish-sounding surname could open more doors in show business. Among female actors, the transformation is just as dramatic. Oscar-winner Natalie Portman was born Neta-Lee Hershlag, and Meg Ryan is actually Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra. The late screen legend Marilyn Monroe was famously born Norma Jeane Mortenson, later taking her stepfather's surname, Baker, before Hollywood transformed her identity forever. Rising stars are also no strangers to reinvention. Emma Stone, whose birth name is Emily Jean Stone, changed her professional name after finding out 'Emily Stone' was already taken in SAG. 'It was Emma or Riley. Emma felt right,' she once said in an interview. The tradition of altering names is rooted not just in branding, but also in survival within a competitive and often image-focused industry. A unique or appealing name can help actors stand out in casting calls and marketing campaigns, shaping their public identity from the ground up. While fans may be surprised to learn the real names behind the celebrities they admire, these changes are a reminder that behind the glamour and red carpets, Hollywood is a world where reinvention is often the first step toward stardom. Here's a list of well-known Hollywood actors and their real (birth) names that differ from their stage names: Stage name Real name Brad Pitt William Bradley Pitt Tom Cruise Thomas Cruise Mapother IV Vin Diesel Mark Sinclair Vincent Jamie Foxx Eric Marlon Bishop Joaquin Phoenix Joaquin Rafael Bottom Charlie Sheen Carlos Irwin Estévez Michael Keaton Michael John Douglas Nicolas Cage Nicolas Kim Coppola Woody Allen Allan Stewart Konigsberg Ben Kingsley Krishna Pandit Bhanji Martin Sheen Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez Hulk Hogan (wrestler/actor) Terry Gene Bollea Ice Cube O'Shea Jackson The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) Dwayne Douglas Johnson Ozzy Osbourne John Michael Osbourne Stage name Real name Natalie Portman Neta-Lee Hershlag Whoopi Goldberg Caryn Elaine Johnson Meg Ryan Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra Marilyn Monroe Norma Jeane Mortenson (later Baker) Demi Moore Demetria Gene Guynes Reese Witherspoon Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon Emma Stone Emily Jean Stone Lady Gaga Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta Tina Fey Elizabeth Stamatina Fey Mila Kunis Milena Markovna Kunis Winona Ryder Winona Laura Horowitz Olivia Wilde Olivia Jane Cockburn Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.


Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pranav Mohanlal's look in 'Empuraan' was modeled on Mohanlal's 1980 debut; 'L3' to feature more antagonists
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Actor - director Prithviraj Sukumaran recently opened up about an interesting creative choice behind 'Empuraan'. Speaking with Nayandeep Rakshit on YouTube, the actor-director revealed that the reference for the younger version of Mohanlal 's character, Stephen Nedumbally, was drawn from the 1980 classic 'Manjil Virinja Pookkal'. According to Prithviraj, the resemblance between Pranav Mohanlal and his father's early film days was uncanny. 'Anyone who has seen films like Manjil Virinja Pookkal would notice how similar Pranav looks to Mohanlal from that era,' he said. Instead of relying on AI or digital face replacement, the team decided to keep the look as authentic as possible, using images from Mohanlal's debut film as the visual guide. L2: Empuraan - Official Teaser Younger stephen to reappear in 'L3', More villains on the way As for the future of the 'Lucifer' franchise, Prithviraj confirmed that 'L3', the third installment, will also feature a glimpse of Stephen Nedumbally's past—though again, not in an extended flashback. He hinted that as the story moves forward, audiences can expect the introduction of more antagonists. While he didn't reveal names, he suggested that the world of Lucifer is expanding, and with it, the stakes will rise. Hollywood strike impacted casting of foreign actors Prithviraj shared that the ongoing Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strike during Empuraan's casting process affected their original plans of casting foreign actors in the Mohanlal starrer. Several actors the team had been in discussions with were SAG members, and the strike halted all further negotiations. With agencies and offices shut, they had to pivot quickly. 'Many actors were close to signing on, but we had to go with those not bound by SAG contracts,' Prithviraj explained. That's how 'Game of Thrones' star Jerome Flynn and 'The Fast and the Furious' actor Rick Yune came aboard. Meanwhile, with heavy expectations, 'L2: Empuraan' received mixed reviews from the audiences.