Orvana restarts operations at Don Mario plant

Executive Summary

• Orvana Minerals Corp. has initiated a phased restart of its Don Mario processing plant in Bolivia, marking a significant milestone in the commissioning of its expanded processing facilities.
• The restart involves bringing comminution and thickening circuits online to feed the gold-silver circuit, with performance verification expected through mid-January 2026.
• The copper circuit expansion is scheduled to come online in the second half of January 2026, followed by a controlled ramp-up of all circuits from February through April 2026.

Key Details

• Phased Restart Timeline:
  • Current Phase: Comminution and thickening circuits are online, supplying feed to the gold-silver circuit.
  • Mid-January 2026: Performance verification of initial circuits is expected to conclude.
  • Second Half of January 2026: The copper circuit (part of the expansion) is scheduled to be brought online.
  • February – April 2026: Controlled ramp-up of all circuits is planned.
• Don Mario Plant Expansion Components:
  • Installation of new circuits for copper oxide processing, including acid leaching, filtration, solvent extraction, and electrowinning to produce copper cathodes.
  • Enhancements to gold-silver and detox circuits to improve throughput and technological performance.
  • Comprehensive overhaul of pre-existing comminution and thickening circuits.
  • Business-readiness initiatives including upgrades to power generation, laboratories, warehouses, and workshops, plus recruitment and training of personnel.
• Pilot Testing and Production Estimates:
  • EMIPA is conducting final on-site pilot testing concurrent with commissioning.
  • Results, combined with existing metallurgical data, will be used to update metal production estimates for processing oxide stockpiles at Don Mario.
  • Updated production information will be provided once testing results are validated.
• Management Commentary: CEO Juan Gavidia emphasized the disciplined, phased start-up approach designed to manage commissioning risk, validate plant performance, and position the operation for the 2026 ramp-up.

Notable Quotes

• "The restart of the Don Mario plant represents an important milestone for Orvana as we advance the commissioning of our expanded processing facilities. Our focus remains on executing a disciplined and phased start-up designed to manage commissioning risk, validate plant performance and position the operation for a controlled ramp-up in 2026." — Juan Gavidia, Chief Executive Officer