Proactive’s Tylah Tully breaks down ‘Just the Facts’ of the latest news from Silver Mines Ltd (ASX:SVL, OTC:SLVMF).
The company has released an optimisation study for the Bowdens Silver Project (BSP) in New South Wales.
The study demonstrates strong economic performance, with projections based on a silver price of US$29 per ounce.
Over a 16-year mine life, the project is expected to produce 53 million ounces of silver, 92,000 tonnes of zinc, and 67,000 tonnes of lead.
Silver accounts for 86% of the project’s revenue, positioning Bowdens as one of the most leveraged silver projects globally.
Key outcomes
- Profitability Index: 1.76x, with a payback period of 3.9 years.
- Life of Mine Metrics: Operating margin of A$948 million and pre-tax NPV of A$359 million with an IRR of 21%. Post-tax NPV stands at A$253 million with an IRR of 18%.
- Optimised operations: Low-cost production with average C1 margins exceeding 45%.
The project’s immediate priority is obtaining Development Consent from the New South Wales state government.
Once this is achieved, the company will advance to a definitive feasibility study and front-end engineering and design (FEED).
Silver Mines expressed confidence in overcoming recent setbacks from the NSW Court of Appeal and emphasised the project’s potential to deliver significant economic and community benefits.