Aris Mining Reports Positive Prefeasibility Study for Sorte Norte Gold Project in Colombia

Aris Mining Corporation has completed a prefeasibility study on its Sorte Norte Gold Project in Colombia, confirming the project's high quality. The project is part of the Soto Norte Project, a new underground gold, silver, and copper mine operated and owned 51% by Aris Mining. The study confirms the project's potential to produce high-quality gold and other metals.

Aris Mining Corporation (NYSE-A: ARMN) has completed a positive prefeasibility study (PFS) for its Soto Norte Gold Project in Colombia, confirming the project's high quality and robust economics. The Soto Norte Project, a new underground gold, silver, and copper mine owned 51% by Aris Mining, is set to produce high-quality gold and other metals.

The Soto Norte PFS reveals a high-grade, long-life gold project with strong environmental credentials. Key financial metrics include an initial capital expenditure of $625 million, after-tax NPV5% of $2.7 billion, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 35.4%, and a payback period of 2.3 years. The project boasts low life-of-mine cash costs of $345/oz Au and all-in-sustaining costs (AISC) of $534/oz Au, positioning it in the lowest quartile of the global cost curve [1].

The Soto Norte project contains proven and probable reserves of 20.3 million tonnes at 7.00 g/t Au, containing 4.6 million ounces of gold. The project emphasizes environmental stewardship with 96.5% water reuse and no cyanide or mercury usage. A significant portion of the processing capacity, 750 tpd (21.4% of total capacity), is dedicated to processing material from local community miners, replacing informal mercury-using operations with regulated processing [1].

The project's economics are anchored by its high-grade profile and robust environmental design. The project's NPV5% increases to $3.56 billion at a gold price of $3,200/oz, with an IRR of 42.1%. The project is expected to generate average annual EBITDA of $547 million in years 2-10, while creating approximately 675 permanent jobs and contributing $2.6 billion in taxes over its lifetime [1].

Aris Mining is preparing to apply for environmental licensing in early 2026, following the completion of environmental studies. The Soto Norte PFS positions the project as one of the most economically robust and socially responsible gold development projects in the Americas [1, 2].

References:
[1] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/ARMN/aris-mining-announces-positive-prefeasibility-study-results-for-the-yej87h1nyj1m.html
[2] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aris-mining-announces-positive-prefeasibility-study-results-for-the-soto-norte-gold-project-in-colombia-302544454.html