Hey Wassa,
While I agree with some of your points, all companies are going to be selective in their reporting, but... more importantly, WGX changed the entire company's fortunes by closing the open pits and closing small underperforming U/G mines, this meant less tonnes but, higher grades.
So yeah, the plants are not all running at all capacity.
I believe you are 100% wrong about plants not having a nameplate range.
As I understand it, almost every plant does, though some companies won't telegraph it, or even mention it because their ore mix does not change, so, the throughput does not deviate.
Just look at GCY now SPR, plant is rated at 2.5mtpa, yet back in it's early days, it was ploughing through inexcess of 3.3mtpa!
Back in 2019
275,000 x 12 - 3.3mtpa.
WAF at it's Sanbrado plant achieves much higher throughput because they have the right mix of ore.
I do agree about 2 of Westgolds plants being old, but, WGX recently upgraded both their power solutions, so they clearly view them as being viable for many years to come (but... not cheap to run).
We will see if you are right about the plants needing upgrading (WGX did a study on Tuckabianna, but decided it was too costly a few years ago) or it's about having the right mix of dirt. I think they are also being prudent with their stockpiles, particularly at Bluebird (I think Tuckabianna is running as high as it can, because... they have a crazy amount of stockpiles).
(20min delay)