Early-stage development is currently underway at the site, with demolition of legacy components and procurement of new equipment proceeding as planned. Approximately 50% of procurement packages have been awarded, and the project has maintained financial discipline with nearly 40% of capital committed by mid-July. The total capital expenditure for the refurbishment is estimated at $430 million, aligning with the company's December 2025 engineering study.

Once completed, the Lone Tree plant will serve as the central processing hub for the company's Nevada-based underground mines. By transitioning away from toll milling, i-80 Gold anticipates significant improvements to its operating margins, projecting an increase of $1,000 to $1,500 per ounce of gold depending on price and ore grade. Paul Chawrun, Executive Vice President and COO, noted that the project remains a low-risk initiative backed by a management team with extensive experience in autoclave facility operations.