Nativo Resources plc has advanced preparations to construct its La Patona gold ore processing plant in Acarí, Peru and exited its oil and gas interest in Argentina.
ADVANTAGE
The company said it had completed the plant’s design and chosen suppliers for all its material components.
Suppliers have also been chosen, with agreed prices and delivery times, for fabrication, transport and installation of a new water borehole and pump, an ore crushing unit, with a 350 tonnes per day capacity, as well as two milling units.
Other work includes installation of a 150 tpd flotation circuit, a 70 tpd lixiviation circuit to process higher grade ore, a chemical and metallurgy laboratory for assaying, and a smelting circuit with a daily output of seven to eight kilogrammes producing gold doré bars
Nativo plans to award a contract for civil works later this month for groundworks, access and internal roads as well as a geomembrane liner for the tailings facility.
The company added it expected the processing plant, which lies 45km from the Tesoro gold concession, to begin ore processing during the second quarter of 2026.
The first phase of output will be between 1.48 kg and 1.67 kg gold in doré bars per day, subject to ore supply.
The second phase will increase capacity, resulting in production of up to 3kg per day.
“We have a clear objective to become an integrated regional gold producer, handling both Nativo’s own and third-party material,” said chief executive officer Stephen Birrell.
“We are developing the plant to be capable of processing both high and lower grade ores, providing a competitive advantage over other regional tolling plants which typically do not accommodate lower grade ores from the artisanal and small-scale miners.
“We look forward to commencing civil works on site and formalising the equipment orders in the coming weeks.”
SANTA CRUZ SUR
The company has sold its 5% interest in the Santa Cruz Sur oil and gas project onshore Argentina to focus solely on its Peru gold assets.
The interest was transferred to operator Interoil Exploration and Production ASA for nil consideration.
Nativo said that the assets had made a loss since 2023 and that the company’s shareholding was fully written down in its 2023 annual report and accounts.