CatalystWireBeta

Operations Update: Gold Ore Processing Plant

In brief · summary, not quotable

Nativo Resources Plc has announced a revised phased development plan for its La Patona Gold Ore Processing Plant, re-sequencing operations into three phases to optimize capital and accelerate revenue. Phase 1, a crushing, milling, and cyanidation circuit with a 70 t/d capacity, has a new capital cost estimate of US$2.03 million (US$2.75 million including contingency) and targets production of 0.94-1.59 kg/d of gold doré. Phase 1a will expand cyanidation capacity to 110 t/d for an additional US$0.09 million, and Phase 2 will add a 240 t/d flotation circuit, bringing total capacity to 350 t/d with a new capex estimate of US$1.10 million before contingency. Phase 1 will be funded through project, royalty, and equity finance, with subsequent phases funded by free cash flow. Construction and commissioning for Phase 1 are targeted for H2 2026, with first gold production expected in Q4 2026, pending completion of project financing.

Full announcement

Select text to share a quote on X · sign in to keep highlights & notes in your NTVO notes

Nativo Resources PLC (LON: NTVO), the precious metals company with gold mining and processing interests in Peru, provides an update on the development plan for the La Patona Gold Ore Processing Plant ("GOPP" or "La Patona"), located in Acarí, approximately 45 km from the Company's wholly owned Tesoro Gold Concession.

Following completion of front-end engineering design, detailed line-item capital costings and production modelling, the Company has re-sequenced the development of La Patona into three phases, designed to optimise capital deployment, accelerate time to first revenue and reduce scale-up risk. This announcement sets out the revised phased development plan, including updated capital cost estimates and production targets.

Highlights

Development re-sequenced into three phases:

PhaseConfigurationCapacityBlended feed gradeNew production target (gold doré)Previous production target (gold doré)New capex estimatePrevious capex estimate
1Crushing, milling and cyanidation (lixiviation) circuit70 t/d15-25 g/t0.94-1.59 kg/d1.48-1.67 kg/dUS$2.03m (US$2.75m incl. 35% contingency)US$1.8m
1aCyanidation circuit capacity expansion (additional tank capacity)110 t/d15-25 g/t1.47-2.50 kg/d-US$0.09m (before contingency)-
2Addition of an approximately 240 t/d flotation circuit350 t/d5-15 g/t Au2.54-5.78 kg/dUp to 3 kgUS$1.10m (before contingency)-

Production targets assume gold recoveries of 90-92% and a smelting yield of 99%, and are subject to the availability of suitable feed material from Nativo's own operations and third-party suppliers. The ranges reflect the low and high ends of the targeted blended feed grades.

  • Phase 1 to be fully funded through a combination of project finance, royalty stream finance and equity finance, optimising dilution
  • Subsequent phases to be funded from free cashflow from Phase 1, removing further capex requirements for scale-up
  • Final investment decision remains subject only to completion of project financing; advanced financing discussions continue with multiple potential funding partners and the offtake proposal from a major commodities trading house remains under consideration
  • On completion of financing, Phase 1 construction and commissioning is targeted for H2 2026, with first gold targeted in [Q4] 2026

Revised Phased Development Plan

La Patona will be developed as a dual-circuit flotation and cyanidation facility with an on-site smelter producing gold doré bars and on-site metallurgy and assaying of all ore. The crushing and milling circuit will be sized for the full plant capacity from the outset, allowing each subsequent phase to be delivered with modest incremental capital and minimal disruption to operations.

Capital Cost Schedule

The phased capital cost schedule below has been prepared from detailed line-item costings, reconciled to the Company's source capital expenditure workbooks, and reviewed against the completed FEED and Basis of Design. A contingency allowance of 35% has been applied, which the Board considers conservative at this stage of definition.

Cost category (US$)Phase 1 (70 t/d)Phase 1a (110 t/d)Phase 2 (350 t/d)
Equipment1,699,0781,786,6282,137,262
Services131,138131,138778,138
Civil works203,308203,308303,308
Total capex (base)2,033,5232,121,0743,218,708
Contingency @ 35%711,733742,3761,126,548
Total incl. contingency2,745,2572,863,4494,345,255

Phase figures are stated on a cumulative whole-plant basis. The incremental (step-up) capital is approximately US$87,550 from Phase 1 to Phase 1a and approximately US$1,097,634 from Phase 1a to Phase 2, in each case before contingency. Phase 2 includes approximately US$635,000 of initial working capital (three months of spares, reagents, consumables and initial ore purchases).

Development Sequencing and Timeline

The final investment decision for Phase 1 will be taken on completion of project financing. On funding, the Company will commit to Phase 1, with construction and commissioning targeted for H2 2026 and first gold production targeted in [Q4] 2026.

Phase 1a will be initiated once Phase 1 is operational and generating revenue and is expected to take approximately six months to build and commission. Phase 2 will be initiated once Phase 1a is operational and is expected to take approximately six to eight months to finalise detailed design, procure equipment, build and commission. On this basis the Company expects each phase to be substantially funded, beyond the initial Phase 1 raise, from a combination of operating cash flow and modest incremental capital.

Stephen Birrell, Chief Executive Officer of Nativo, commented:

"The re-phasing of La Patona is about discipline: getting to first gold with the least capital, in the shortest time, and then letting the plant pay for its own growth. Phase 1 concentrates spend on the cyanidation circuit, where the highest-grade material delivers the fastest payback, while the crushing and milling infrastructure is sized for the full plant from day one. That means the step-up to 110 tpd costs less than a hundred thousand dollars, and the flotation circuit that takes us to 350 tpd follows once the plant is already generating revenue.

"With engineering complete, line-item costings reconciled and an offtake proposal under evaluation, La Patona is construction-ready. Our focus is on concluding project financing so we can take the final investment decision and put the plant to work."

X: https://x.com/nativoresources

Glossary

TermDefinition
AuGold
doréSemi-refined gold bars produced at site, for onward refining
FEEDFront-end engineering design
FIDFinal investment decision
g/tGrams per tonne
kg/dKilograms per day
lixiviationChemical leaching (cyanidation) process used to dissolve and extract gold
t/dTonnes per day

Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.

Share this quote

Quote card
Post on X WhatsApp Download image

The link opens this announcement with the quote highlighted. Quotes are checked against the original text.

Add a note