Aura Announces Receipt of the Construction License and Commencement of Early Works at the Era Dorada Project
Final Permission Granted: Era Dorada Greenlit as Aura Races Toward 600k Ounce Production Target
The most recent news release (January 6, 2026) confirms that Aura Minerals has received the final construction license for the Era Dorada Project in Guatemala and has commenced early works. This project, acquired through the acquisition of Bluestone Resources in early 2025, has successfully transitioned through the Feasibility Study (FS) stage (released December 2025) to active development. Early works include environmental programs, road detours, site preparation, and mine dewatering. The project is now exclusively an underground operation, which management notes has helped secure local community support.
This is a material positive milestone that de-risks the company’s most significant growth lever. In December 2025, Aura upgraded its qualitative growth outlook to 600,000 Gold Equivalent Ounces (GEO) per year, a substantial increase from its prior 450,000 GEO target. Era Dorada is the cornerstone of this growth, with the FS projecting 111,000 GEO per year for the first four years at an All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) of $1,178/oz.
The receipt of the license is critical because: - It confirms that the legal challenges faced by the previous owner (Bluestone) regarding mining methods have been resolved under Aura’s management. - It provides a clear path to production for an asset with an After-Tax NPV of $1.34 billion (at $3,177 gold) or up to $2.17 billion at spot prices. - It validates the "Aura 360" social management strategy in a jurisdiction (Guatemala) historically viewed as high-risk for mining permitting.
Aura Minerals is a mid-tier gold and copper producer with operations in Brazil, Mexico, and Honduras. Its current flagship producer is the Aranzazu mine (Copper/Gold) in Mexico, supplemented by the Almas mine and the newly commissioned Borborema mine in Brazil. - Flagship Development Project: Era Dorada (Guatemala). It is a high-grade epithermal gold-silver deposit. The FS (Dec 2025) outlines a 16.8-year mine life with 1.75 million GEO in Reserves. It is expected to be one of the lowest-cost mines in the portfolio.