Atico Begins Pre-Construction at La Plata Project with the Commencement of Archaeological Activities and Construction of a Wildlife Transit Center
Atico advances La Plata pre-construction while El Roble production continues despite missing cost guidance.
Atico Mining Corporation has announced the commencement of archaeological research activities at its La Plata project in Ecuador. To satisfy environmental obligations and comply with Ecuador's Organic Law of Culture, the company has also begun construction on a wildlife transit center and plant nursery.
Financially, Atico entered into a market support agreement with Ventum Financial Group, under which Ventum will fund CAD$5,000 per month. Full construction and operation activities at the La Plata project are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
Employment projections for the project outline the creation of more than 600 direct jobs and between 1,200 and 1,800 indirect jobs during the construction phase. These figures are expected to scale to over 300 direct jobs and between 600 and 900 indirect jobs during commercial production.
Atico Mining Corporation (ATY) confirmed that pre-construction activities have commenced at La Plata, validating the project's progression toward a construction start in the first quarter of 2027. This development follows the receipt of the environmental license in February 2026 and the closing of a $111.4 million financing package in September 2026. The company stated that these steps do not alter the financial or operational thesis for the project.
Market participants have already priced in the financing and permitting milestones. The current stock price reflects a consolidation phase as the market awaits actual construction spend and production updates.
Atico Mining Corporation (TSXV: ATY | OTCQX: ATCMF) is a Vancouver-based mining company focused on Latin America. The company operates the El Roble Mine, an underground copper-gold mine in Chocó, Colombia, which it owns 90 percent of. With a processing capacity of 1,000 tonnes per day, the mine has been in production since 2020.
Atico also holds a 100 percent interest in the La Plata Project, a high-grade VMS copper-gold-zinc project located near Quito, Ecuador. Spanning 2,300 hectares, the project completed a Definitive Feasibility Study in August 2024 and targets a processing capacity of 850 tonnes per day. The company’s strategy involves transitioning from a single-asset producer to a two-mine operator to diversify cash flow and extend corporate mine life.