Cyprium Metals Ltd (ASX:CYM, OTCQB:CYPMF) is targeting first copper cathode production from the Nifty Copper Complex in Western Australia during the September quarter after making substantial progress on its Phase 1 restart program.
Construction and refurbishment work is moving toward practical completion, with the focus now shifting to commissioning, operational readiness and delivery of the solvent extraction and electrowinning plant.
Cyprium ended the June quarter with A$68.5 million in cash, providing funding to advance the restart alongside its broader growth and exploration programs.
Restart work enters final phase
Key milestones during the quarter included commissioning a new acid storage and distribution terminal and restarting sulphuric acid deliveries to Nifty for the first time since the operation entered care and maintenance in 2009.
The company also progressed leach solution infrastructure, heap turnover and dripper installation, while beginning hydro-testing of surface and direct-injection leach systems.
At the SXEW plant, concrete repairs and acid-proofing works neared completion, new pumps and motors were installed and electrowinning cell components, anodes, a rectiformer and transformer were delivered or dispatched to site.
Cyprium executive chair Matt Fifield said the company was nearing a pivotal transition from construction and installation to plant delivery.
“We are nearing a pivotal inflection from construction and installation to delivery of the SXEW plant,” he said.
“Our team is proud of the progress made to date and we remain on track for first cathode production this quarter.”
Growth plan targets expanded production
Alongside the Phase 1 restart, Cyprium is evaluating an expansion of Nifty’s targeted cathode production capacity from around 6,000 tonnes per annum to about 20,000 tonnes per annum.
The work includes evaluating refurbishment of the plant’s larger A Train, construction of a new leach pad and development of shallow oxide material within the existing open pit. The company is also refining plans to access the large sulphide reserve and refurbish the existing concentrator.
Updated mineral resource and ore reserve estimates for the Nifty Copper Complex are expected during the second half of 2026 following additional drilling and mine planning.
Waste dump adds potential low-cost feed
Drilling at the Nifty waste dump also identified extensive near-surface copper oxide mineralisation that could provide a future low-cost source of feed for the refurbished heap leach and SXEW operation.
Results included 9 metres at 1.00% copper from surface, including 4 metres at 1.83%, and 7 metres at 1.11% copper from surface, including 3 metres at 1.55%. The mineralised material is within 1.2 kilometres of the existing leach pads and connected by established haul roads.