Cerro de Pasco Resources Secures Access Agreement Over Entire Quiulacocha Tailings Area, Enabling Next Phase of Project Development
Unlocking the World’s Largest Above-Ground Metal Resource through Environmental Remediation
The most recent news (March 26, 2026) announces that Cerro de Pasco Resources (CDPR) has signed a definitive access and investigation agreement with the Peruvian state agency Activos Mineros S.A.C. (AMSAC). This agreement grants CDPR surface access to the entire Quiulacocha Tailings Storage Facility, including areas beyond their original El Metalurgista concession. CDPR will pay approximately US$2.1 million over the initial term. This follows a March 2, 2026, announcement of a Project Development Funding Agreement with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for US$5 million in milestone funding and the consideration of a US$300 million direct loan for project construction.
The impact is Material - Positive. While the DFC funding was the "Game Changer" in terms of financial validation, the AMSAC agreement is the critical operational "unlock." - Operational De-risking: Previously, CDPR was limited to its specific concession. Access to the entire tailings area allows for a unified technical solution, comprehensive resource estimation (targeting the full 75Mt deposit), and a streamlined Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). - Strategic Validation: The involvement of the U.S. DFC specifically to recover "strategic technology metals" (Gallium and Indium) elevates this from a simple silver play to a critical minerals project. - Financial Synergy: The AMSAC agreement was likely a prerequisite for the DFC to move forward with the US$300 million loan consideration. - Liability Resolution: The December 2025 settlement with Trevali removed a US$4.08M liability for a CAD$2M payment, significantly cleaning the balance sheet before these major milestones.
CDPR focuses on the "circular economy" by reprocessing historical tailings in the Cerro de Pasco district of Peru. - Flagship Project: Quiulacocha Tailings. - Resource: Estimated 75Mt of tailings containing a historic estimate of 423 Moz Ag Eq. Recent drilling confirmed 5.5 oz/t AgEq. - Secondary Asset: Excelsior Stockpile (30.1 Mt Inferred Resource). - Key Advantage: No traditional mining (blasting/crushing) required; material is already above ground, reducing OPEX by an estimated 40%.