en.Wedoany.com Reported - Cyprium Metals Ltd (ASX:CYM, OTCQB:CYPMF) has entered a critical phase in the restart of Stage 1 cathode copper production at its Nifty Copper Complex in Western Australia, with the focus shifting from construction and refurbishment to practical completion, commissioning, and operational readiness.
During the quarter ending June, the company executed high-intensity work on the Nifty project's acid storage, ponds, heap leach, solvent extraction, electrowinning, solution treatment, filtration, fire water, and electrical systems. A key milestone was the commissioning of the new acid storage and distribution terminal, enabling the resumption of sulfuric acid supply at the end of May. This marks the first delivery of sulfuric acid to the site since the closure of the solvent extraction-electrowinning (SXEW) plant in 2006.
Cyprium stated that the Stage 1 cathode copper restart has been "substantially advanced," with multiple work packages now nearing completion. Executive Chairman Matt Fifield noted that the receipt of acid on site is a tangible indicator of progress against the project timeline, adding that the company is transitioning from construction to completion, followed by commissioning. Site activity levels remain high across major work packages, and progress has also been made on technical and commercial work supporting the company's growth plans.
The new acid terminal was completed and commissioned during the quarter after receiving regulatory approval. Cyprium has arranged acid procurement through one of Australia's largest acid handlers, with material shipped by sea to the supplier's Port Hedland terminal and then transported to Nifty via dedicated tanker trucks. The Port Hedland terminal can currently store inventory equivalent to approximately five months of Cyprium's projected acid demand. The company said the resumption of acid supply demonstrates that the storage and logistics chain is ready to support near-term leaching operations.
On the heap leach front, preparations for the initial surface leach program continue, including turning over surface material on selected heaps, installing inflow piping and drip irrigation hoses, and testing and pressurizing the solution system. The company expects that, pending regulatory approval for the heap leach pad and drainage works, the turned pad will be flushed with water in the coming weeks, followed by acid commissioning. Cyprium has also initiated a direct injection leach trial to test whether solution can be injected into the heap via shallow wells to increase the volume of leached material. Initial water flush results are considered encouraging, and the trial is ongoing. Progress has also been made in the pond area and solution infrastructure, including work on intermediate leach solution and pregnant liquor systems, barren pond preparation, site equipment, control circuits, and stormwater systems.
At the solvent extraction plant, all structural repairs and acid-proofing have been completed and received regulatory approval. Work is increasingly focused on commissioning preparation, including tank cleaning and inspection, bund and sump hydrostatic testing, pipework restoration, and removal of redundant piping and cables. Progress has also been made in the electrowinning area, involving concrete repairs, acid-proofing, HDPE liner repairs, hydrostatic testing, compressor installation, electrowinning cell installation, busbar upgrades, transformer delivery, bridge crane installation, and stripping machine refurbishment. Anodes and cathodes required for the electrowinning plant have begun arriving on site. Electrical and instrumentation work continued during the quarter, including cable removal, installation, testing, and termination in motor control centers and field areas.
Cyprium said the quarter marked a clear shift toward pre-commissioning and commissioning readiness. Operational readiness activities include manual and procedure development, training system upgrades, laboratory support, mine rescue and safety equipment procurement, delivery of initial fill materials, warehouse inventory, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) protocols. The company believes these milestones are designed to de-risk and shorten the timeline to first cathode copper production.
Cyprium expects to provide a further update on its broader growth plans in the September quarter. The company is developing plans and capital estimates to expand SXEW cathode copper capacity from a Stage 1 target of approximately 6,000 tonnes per annum to around 20,000 tonnes per annum. It is also evaluating shallow oxide material in the Nifty open pit, including additional drilling and mine planning, with an updated Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimate for the Nifty Copper Complex expected in the second half of 2026. Additionally, Cyprium is refining plans for open-pit sulfide mining and refurbishment of the existing Nifty concentrator, with exploration updates to be released separately.
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