Orvana Minerals Corp. has produced its first copper cathodes from the Oxides Stockpile Project at its Don Mario operation in southeastern Bolivia. The milestone follows the production of the company’s first gold-silver doré bar announced on September 8, 2026, marking the second of the project’s two metal recovery circuits to reach operational production.

Empresa Minera Paitití S.A., Orvana’s Bolivian subsidiary known as EMIPA, previously closed a US$25 million secured prepayment facility with Trafigura in November 2025 to fully finance the capital expenditure required to complete construction and plant expansion at the site.

“The production of copper cathodes marks a second key milestone in the ramp-up of EMIPA's oxides processing operations. This milestone, together with the doré production previously announced, demonstrates the full metallurgical scope of the expanded Don Mario Plant, recovering both copper cathodes and gold-silver doré from the same oxide ore,”

— Juan Gavidia, Chief Executive Officer of Orvana

However, based on ramp-up performance to date and the time required to achieve stable operating conditions, management expects fiscal 2026 production to fall below the guidance issued in August 2026. The company has formally withdrawn EMIPA's fiscal 2026 production guidance.

“Management is now focused on improving mechanical reliability and operational stability across all processing circuits in order to support higher throughput rates. While initial weeks of the ramp-up have been slower than anticipated, plant performance continues to improve as EMIPA advances toward stable operations at its targeted average processing rate of approximately 1,700 tonnes per day,”

— Juan Gavidia, Chief Executive Officer of Orvana

EMIPA is continuing ramp-up activities through the remainder of fiscal 2026 to increase throughput and advance toward stable conditions. Orvana expects to provide a further operational update on the Don Mario Oxides Stockpile Project in mid-October 2026.

Read the full announcement: ORVANA ANNOUNCES FIRST COPPER CATHODES FROM ITS OXIDES STOCKPILE PROJECT IN BOLIVIA