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Marmato Mine: On April 15, 2024, Aris Mining Corporation (“Aris”) provided an update on the Marmato Lower Mine expansion project, including the completion of the access road to the new processing facility area. Earthworks in the plant area will reportedly commence soon, and the contractor for the new portal and decline is fully mobilized and cutting of the portal face has commenced. On May 14, 2024, Aris reported that most of the mechanical equipment has been ordered and the access road has reached the portal level. On July 16, 2024, Aris further reported that the Lower Mine project is on track for first gold pour by the end of 2025, followed by an approximate six-month ramp-up period.
Curipamba Project: On June 17, 2024, Adventus Mining Corporation (“Adventus”) announced that the Ministry of Environment, Water and Energy Transition of the Government of Ecuador has granted Administrative Authorization over Public Hydric Domain for the Curipamba project. This key permit allows the Curipamba project to carry out planned construction activities in accordance with the technical requirements stipulated in the Water Resources Law. With this approval, Adventus noted that the last main step prior to the start of construction is the receipt of the final document outlining the transition from the medium scale exploration to exploitation phase.
On April 26, 2024, Adventus announced that Silvercorp Metals Inc. (“Silvercorp”) has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with Adventus pursuant to which Silvercorp has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Adventus. As reported by Silvercorp, the existing stream with Wheaton, combined with Silvercorp’s existing cash and cash equivalents of approximately $200 million, is more than sufficient to fully fund the Curipamba project through construction. On July 2, 2024, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted a final order approving the arrangement. The acquisition closed on July 31, 2024.
On August 6, 2024, Silvercorp announced a key milestone that the Ministry of Energy and Mines of the Government of Ecuador (“MEM”) has issued a Resolution of Change of Phase for the Curipamba project. The Resolution of Change of Phase advances the legal status of the project from the economic evaluation phase to the exploitation phase and allows for the start of construction and subsequent operation of the mine. The Change of Phase for a medium-scale project is equivalent to the Exploitation Agreement for large-scale mines in Ecuador.
Marathon Project: On July 31, 2024, Generation Mining Limited (“Gen Mining”) reported that the federal government has approved amendments to Schedule 2 of the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations (“Schedule 2”) which will allow for the construction of specific water management structures and operation of key infrastructure for the Marathon Project. Gen Mining also states that receipt of the few remaining provincial and federal approvals and permits required for construction is expected in the coming months.
On August 7, 2024, Gen Mining announced a key milestone with the receipt of the Fisheries Act Authorization (“FAA”) for the Marathon project. The FAA, issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, approves Gen Mining’s plan to avoid, mitigate and offset impacts to fish and fish habitat related to the development of the project. This authorization represents the final federal approval required to commence construction of the tailings storage facility and water management structures. The Marathon project requires three remaining provincial approvals to be issued by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Ministry of Natural Resources. These are expected in the coming months. Following which, the Marathon project will have all of the key government permits and approvals required for construction.
Santo Domingo: On July 31, 2024, Capstone Copper Corp. (“Capstone”) published the results of an updated feasibility study for the Santo Domingo project, outlining an optimized mine plan, updated capital and operating cost estimates, and a 19-year mine life supported by higher mineral reserve estimates. The report indicates that total gold production is expected to average 35,000 ounces per year for the first seven years of production, an increase from the 30,000 ounces per year estimate outlined in the 2020 feasibility study, and 22,000 ounces per year for the life of mine, up from 17,000 ounces per year. Capstone has reported that with construction completed at the Mantoverde project, a deposit situated 35 kilometers northeast of the Santo Domingo project, Capstone plans to advance several value enhancement initiatives within the Mantoverde-Santo Domingo district that are not yet included in the 2024 feasibility study. The first of these initiatives is a newly announced two-year, $25 million exploration program at Mantoverde, aimed at supporting the two future processing centers between Mantoverde and Santo Domingo.
Curraghinalt Project: On May 3, 2024, the Planning Appeals Commission & Water Appeals Commission (the “Commission”) in Northern Ireland concluded that the water abstraction and impoundment licenses (“Water Licenses”) relative to the Curraghinalt Project have been rescinded and that license applications would need to be resubmitted and subsequent public inquiry referrals held. The Commission noted that it has suspended arrangements for the