Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX:CYM)

Cyprium Metals Limited announced that its Phase 1 Cathode Restart Project at the Nifty Copper Complex in Western Australia has advanced into commissioning, with acid now being applied to the existing heap leach pads for the first time since operations stopped in 2009, while a successful 14-well direct injection leaching trial confirmed the heaps can accept solution at commercial flow rates of about 250m3 per hour and beyond and produced copper-bearing solution sufficient to support SX-EW commissioning; the company has since expanded the wellfield to 98 production wells providing access to about 1.7 million tonnes of material. The eastern ILS and PLS ponds and acid transport systems are being commissioned, the solvent extraction plant is substantially mechanically complete and undergoing dry and water commissioning, and the electrowinning plant is also substantially mechanically complete with remaining works focused on cell furniture, stripping machine refurbishment, cathode and anode loading, and final electrical and instrumentation completion. Despite some replacement of failed high-voltage components during testing, key electrical infrastructure including the rectiformer, transformer, HV cable runs and approvals have been progressed, all regulatory approvals for Phase 1 are in place subject to successful commissioning, and the project has recorded zero lost time injuries since construction began. Cyprium expects first cathode production in the fourth quarter during wet commissioning and ramp-up, while also evaluating future growth options including expanding SX-EW capacity from about 6,000 tpa to about 20,000 tpa, assessing shallow open pit oxides for inclusion in future operations, refining plans for open pit sulphides and concentrator refurbishment, and continuing exploration and data work across the broader Nifty Copper Complex.