First Copper Cathodes Produced at Bolivia's Don Mario Project, Targeting Average Daily Throughput of 1,700 Tonnes

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 16, Empresa Minera Paitití S.A. (EMIPA), the Bolivian subsidiary of Orvana Minerals, produced its first copper cathodes at the Don Mario mine, using oxide ore stockpile material generated from previous mining at the site. This copper production marks the entry into the production phase of both metal recovery circuits of the Don Mario oxide ore stockpile project; on September 8, the project completed its first doré bar production.

Don Mario is located in southeastern Bolivia and is wholly owned and operated by EMIPA. Mining and ore processing activities at the mine were suspended in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 due to the depletion of ore reserves at that time, after which the operation shifted to utilizing oxide ore stockpile material generated during historical mining. The existing project involves the expansion and modification of the original Don Mario processing plant, adding copper oxide ore acid leaching, filtration, solvent extraction and electrowinning systems, and upgrading the existing gold-silver recovery and detoxification systems, while also modifying the crushing, grinding and thickening circuits.

The oxide ore first undergoes crushing, grinding and thickening, and then enters the acid leaching process; the leach solution enters the solvent extraction and electrowinning systems to produce copper cathodes. The leached solid residue, after alkalization treatment, enters the cyanide leaching, ADR adsorption-desorption recovery and electrowinning systems to ultimately produce doré bars. Both recovery circuits use the same batch of oxide ore feedstock.

EMIPA is currently improving the mechanical reliability and operational stability of the expanded processing plant, targeting an average throughput of approximately 1,700 tonnes per day. The design capacity of the Don Mario processing plant listed on Orvana's official website is 2,000 tonnes per day. In August, the company included the copper cathode and doré bar circuits in the commercial production ramp-up, and in September completed the first production of both types of final metal products.

The Don Mario oxide ore project commenced verification of the gold-silver circuit in December 2025, and in March 2026 completed the first doré bar production after restart using historical sulfide ore; subsequently, commissioning of the copper circuit and full-plant system integration were advanced. In July, preparations required for oxide ore processing were completed, and in August, commercial production ramp-up began. On September 8, the first doré bar production from oxide ore was completed, and on September 16, the first copper cathodes were produced.

Orvana has withdrawn the fiscal 2026 production guidance previously issued by EMIPA and plans to continue increasing throughput and equipment operational stability for the remainder of the fiscal year. The next operational update is scheduled for release in mid-October.