Foran Reports Q1/25 Construction Progress at McIlvenna Bay
The third video in our construction video series is now available here with a focus on our ongoing regional exploration strategy supporting future growth initiatives.
Key Achievements as of
- Safety remains a top priority for the Company, with a lost time incident frequency rate year-to-date for the site (includes exploration) of 1.4, and a workforce of approximately 510 people on site.
- Overall construction progress reached 32%, with major ongoing work across the process plant, underground mine development, fresh air raise excavation, main electrical transformer station earthworks, coarse ore bin earthworks, truck shop, emergency vehicle storage building, tailings storage facility, permanent administrative building and camp expansion.
- Commercial production remains on track for H1 2026, aligned with previous guidance.
- Key structural milestones achieved include completion of primary steel installation and enclosure around the SAG and ball mills, initiation of roof panel installation, and progress on the process building foundations for secondary structural steel, wall panels and roof panels. Overhead crane installation and flotation equipment foundation work also continued.
- Detailed engineering is 92% complete, with a forecast to reach 95% by the end of
April 2025 . - Underground development advance totaled approximately 1,129 metres in Q1 2025, up from approximately 918 metres in Q4 2024, including approximately 939 metres of lateral development and 190 metres of decline advancement. The decline now extends approximately 78 metres past the 180-metre level.
- Additional progress includes completion of battery charge bay excavation at the 90 and 120-metre levels and initiation of ore development on those levels.
- At quarter-end, a surface ore stockpile of approximately 9,000 tonnes had been established.
Construction Progress Summary
Description |
Progress to Date (as of |
Health & Safety |
o Site wide lost time incident frequency rate ("LTIFR") year-to-date of 1.4 and a total recordable incident frequency rate ("TRIFR") year-to-date of 4.5 after over 440,075 total person-hours worked year-to-date |
Construction Progress & Schedule |
o At quarter end, overall project construction stood at approximately 32% o The overall schedule remains in line with previous guidance, with commercial production anticipated in H1 2026 o Approximately 7,807m3 of concrete poured since project inception, with approximately 1,165m3 poured in Q1 2025 o Approximately 1,217 tonnes of steel installed in Q1 2025 o Construction activities continue for the processing plant, truck shops, tailings storage facility, surface ore bin and camp expansion |
Engineering |
o Approximately 92% of detailed engineering has been completed
o Forecast to be 95% complete by end of o Completed camp expansion engineering |
Procurement |
o Procurement is managing 204 work packages, with 188 packages awarded to date |
|
o Completed primary structural steel installation and enclosure around the SAG and ball mills o Started roof panel installation in the quarter o Advanced HVAC system installation o Started flotation tanks assembly o Overhead crane installation continued and concrete for flotation equipment foundations continued o Advanced work on process building foundation, walls, structural steel and started architectural cladding |
|
o In Q1 2025, achieved approximately 1,129m of development vs 918m in Q4 2024 o Development during the quarter consisted of approximately 939m of lateral development 190m of decline advancement o The decline is approximately 78m past the 180m level access o Battery charge bay excavation completed on the 90 and 120 metre levels and initiated ore development on those levels o At quarter end, there was approximately 9,000 tonnes in an ore stockpile on surface |
Permitting |
o Key permits continue to be received as construction progresses |
Human Resources |
o At quarter end, there were approximately 510 persons on site, with 116 Foran employees and 394 contractors |
Process Plant
During the first quarter of 2025 the construction team fully enclosed the grinding area with the SAG and Ball mills at site, with the balance of primary structural steel for the processing plant expected to be completed by the end of Q2 2025.
Engineering and Procurement
Forecasting 95% completion by the end of April with the mine water treatment plant design continuing until July and automation and programming completing in
Underground Development & Pre-Production Mining
During the first quarter, the Company has advanced approximately 190m of decline development and completed approximately 939m of level development, for a total of approximately 1,129m, and 3,438m since project inception including metres advanced during the advanced exploration phase and prior to the start of the implementation of activities in accordance with the Phase 1 capital budget. During the quarter, decline development progressed beyond the 180 m level, which is the bottom of the first production mining block while also providing additional development faces and initial ore that was trucked to surface. As of the end of March ~9,000t of ore are on surface. The underground crews are still on track to build a 272,000 tonne ore stockpile prior to mill production ramp-up. Recruitment of underground production and maintenance personnel to support the mining ramp up has been successful in Q1 and will continue to be a key area of focus in Q2.
Human Resources
As of
Construction Timeline
The project remains on schedule for commercial production in H1 2026, with steady advancement through the seasonally challenging winter months. The project's main critical path activities include installation of surface crushing infrastructure, completion of the primary structural steel and cladding for the mill, construction of the paste plant, installation of copper and zinc flotation circuits and commissioning and ramp up to commercial production.
Corporate Update
The Company intends to file its financial statements and MD&A for the quarter ended
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The McIlvenna Bay Deposit is a copper-zinc-gold-silver rich VHMS deposit intended to be the centre of a new mining camp in a prolific district that has already been producing for 100 years. The McIlvenna Bay Property sits just 65 km West of
The McIlvenna Bay Deposit is the largest undeveloped VHMS deposit in the region. The Company filed its NI 43-101 compliant 2025 Technical Report on the
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or to the future performance of
Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, estimates, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors include management's belief or expectations relating to the following and, in certain cases, management's response with regard to the following: the Company's reliance on the McIlvenna Bay Property; the Company is exposed to risks related to mineral resources exploration and development; the Company has no history of mineral production; the Company's operations are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety regulations; mining operations involve hazards and risks; and the additional risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and should note that the assumptions and risk factors discussed in this press release are not exhaustive. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements contained in this press release. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements, unless required by law. Additional information about these assumptions, risks and uncertainties is contained in our filings with securities regulators on SEDAR+ in
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