SOMA GOLD SIGNS AGREEMENT FOR SENSOR-BASED SORTING FACILITY AT ITS EL BAGRE OPERATION
Efficiency gains through technology offset recent labor volatility as Soma bets on sensor-based sorting to scale without massive CAPEX.
On December 19, 2025, Soma Gold Corp. announced a definitive agreement to purchase and install a sensor-based sorting (SBS) facility at its El Bagre operation in Antioquia, Colombia. The project budget is approximately US$2.2 million, with commissioning targeted for the first half of 2026. This follows pilot test work on material from the Cordero complex which showed a 55% mass rejection rate of waste material while maintaining 95% metallurgical recovery, resulting in a 62.5% gold grade upgrade for the material sent to the mill.
This news is Material - Positive as it represents a relatively low-cost (US$2.2M) capital project that allows for a significant increase in gold production without requiring a massive, multi-year mill expansion. - Operational Efficiency: Rejecting 55% of waste before it enters the mill effectively doubles the available mill capacity for mineralized material. - Margin Expansion: By upgrading the feed grade by 62.5%, the company lowers its per-ounce processing costs and increases recoveries from material that was previously considered sub-marginal or waste. - Continuity: The move from "testing" (announced in Oct 2025) to a "definitive agreement" (Dec 2025) shows management is moving quickly to realize these gains following the production losses incurred during the Q3 labor strike.
Soma Gold Corp. operates the El Bagre Gold Mining Complex in Antioquia, Colombia. Its flagship asset is the Cordero Mine, which feeds the El Bagre Mill (currently ~450 TPD capacity). The company recently rehabilitated the El Limon Mill to add another 200-400 TPD of capacity. The project focus is high-grade underground narrow-vein mining along the Otu Fault system, a prolific gold-bearing structure.