Central Asia Metals plc reported production within 2025 guidance at its Kounrad copper operation from waste in central Kazakhstan and the Sasa zinc-lead mine in North Macedonia.
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Figures from the solvent extraction–electrowinning (SX-EW) copper recovery plant at Kounrad, near the city of Balkhash, reached 13,311 tonnes, slightly lower than 2024’s figure of 13,439t.
The plant produced 3,478t alone during the final quarter of 2025.
Sasa, which lies 10km north of Makedonska Kamenica, produced 17,881t zinc-in-concentrate (2024: 18,572t) and 25,156t lead-in-concentrate (26,617t).
During the year, the company also introduced cost savings including reducing its workforce by 9% through voluntary mutual agreements, retirements or expiry of temporary contracts.
At year end, Central Asia held $80.1 million cash, with $900,000 drawn under an overdraft.
Guidance for 2026 copper production is in the range of 12,000 to 13,000t; zinc-in-concentrate, 18,000 to 20,000t; and lead-in-concentrate, 26,000 to 28,000t.
This year’s exploration activities in Kazakhstan will include 5,500 metres of drill testing on two of its four licences.
The third licence will undergo further delineation work, while the fourth is returned to the licensing authority.
Central Asia also has three additional licences, awarded towards the end of the final quarter of 2025.
Chief executive officer Gavin Ferrar welcomed the figures at Kounrad in the light of high copper prices.
“As we have always made clear, the nature of dump-leaching means that Kounrad’s output will naturally reduce gradually over time, which is reflected in our 2026 production guidance.
“Our focus remains on keeping the operation as efficient as possible to maximise Kounrad’s industry-leading profit margins.”
He added that the progress made at Sasa had given Central Asia “sufficient confidence” to increase guidance for 2026.
“We continue to focus on increasing our understanding of the Sasa orebody, with the aim of maintaining and building on this improvement in mining performance.
“Meanwhile, following the full business review of Sasa completed in H2 2025, we have also begun to implement a series of measures aimed at improving operational efficiency.
“This focus on our core operations has not lessened our determination to grow the business, and our dedicated exploration and project-appraisal teams continue their work in pursuit of this goal.”
During 2025, the company also agreed to invest a further £850,000 in its 28.7%-owned Aberdeen Minerals Ltd to drill an untested area at Arthrath, which is indicated to have “strong potential” for high-grade massive sulphides.