Cyprium Metals advances Nifty Copper restart project
- Cyprium Metals commenced acid commissioning on existing heaps at its Nifty Copper Complex for the first time since 2009.
- High-grade copper solution inventory was secured to support the initial startup of the solvent extraction and electrowinning plant.
- First cathode production is now targeted for the fourth quarter during wet commissioning and operational ramp-up.
Cyprium Metals (ASX:CYM) has initiated acid solution commissioning on existing heap leach pads at the Nifty Copper Complex in Western Australia.
The commencement of acid application marks the first time the site's heap leach pads have received treatment in nearly two decades.
"Applying acid solution to the existing heaps is a significant milestone for Cyprium – this is the first leach on these pads in nearly twenty years."
said Cyprium Metals Executive Chairman Matt Fifield.
The company completed a 14-well direct injection trial utilising a commercial flow rate of 250 cubic metres per hour, subsequently expanding the wellfield to 98 production wells to access 1.7 million tonnes of leachable material.
Cyprium stated that the Phase 1 project aims to deliver a targeted production capacity of 6,000 tonnes per annum of copper cathode, with future expansion planning underway to evaluate increasing capacity up to 20,000 tonnes per annum.
Following the announcement the Cyprium Metals share price was unchanged at $0.50.
The Paterson region site features existing surface stockpiles and an open pit, with the company progressing evaluation work to update its mineral resource and ore reserve estimates in the second half of 2026.
Exploration activities also continued across adjacent tenements, with reprocessed assay results from the Rainbow drilling programme expected in the early fourth quarter following routine quality control checks.
