EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT

Diablillos a stand-out: AbraSilver

Releases PEA

Staff reporter
 AbraSilver Resource Corp’s Diablillos project in Argentina

AbraSilver Resource Corp’s Diablillos project in Argentina | Credits: AbraSilver Resource

The PEA put the base case after-tax NPV5 at US$364 million and the IRR at a healthy 30.2%.

It envisaged initial capex of $255 million for a 16-year mine in Argentina's Salta province, with a 2.6-year payback.

It was expected to produce an average annual 8 million ounces of silver and 44,300oz gold over the first five years, and an average 4.2Moz silver and 52,000oz gold over the life of mine.

All-in sustaining costs were estimated at $11.97/oz silver-equivalent for the openpit operation.

The PEA used base case prices of $24/oz silver and $1,650/oz gold, compared with today's spot prices of $22.85/oz and $1,794/oz respectively.

The company said there were more opportunities to enhance the project.

It announced last month it would double its Phase II drilling programme to 20,000m ahead of a resource update slated for the second half of 2022.

"Our ongoing Phase II exploration programme continues to intersect multiple high-grade results which are expected to add significant incremental value," president and CEO John Miniotis said. 

"Moreover, we have identified several opportunities to further expand and optimise the PEA case, which we intend to evaluate as we proceed towards a feasibility study."

The company, which counts Eric Sprott and SSR Mining among its top shareholders, said it had about C$20 million in cash and was full-funded to advance Diablillos to a construction decision, which was pencilled in for 2023.

AbraSilver also has the La Coipita and Aguas Perdidas projects in Argentina and Rio Tinto can earn up to 75% of its Arcas project in Chile.

Its shares (TSXV: ABRA) have ranged from 31c-82c over the past year and closed down 1.2% yesterday to 40c, valuing it at $189 million (US$148 million).

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Journal Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Journal Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2024: Net Zero

Gain insights into decarbonisation trends and strategies from interviews with 20+ top mining executives and experts plus an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Project Pipeline Handbook 2024

View our 50 top mining projects, handpicked using a unique, objective selection process from a database of 450+ global assets.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.