Company Interviews

Interview with Daniel Henao, CEO, Mineros S.A.
Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mineros-sa-tsxmsa-record-800m-revenue-in-2025-sets-up-2026-nicaragua-growth-surge-9396
Recording date: 8th May 2026
Mineros S.A., a long-established gold producer operating in Colombia and Nicaragua, is emerging as a compelling case of market undervaluation despite strong operational and financial performance. In the first quarter of 2026, the company produced 61,000 ounces of gold equivalent and generated $154 million in EBITDA, exceeding production guidance while keeping costs below expectations. Revenue reached $292 million, with significant gains driven not only by favorable gold prices but also by improved recovery rates and operational efficiencies.
Despite this momentum, Mineros trades at just 0.49 times price-to-net asset value, well below industry peers. With a market capitalization of approximately $1.2 billion, over $220 million in cash and gold holdings, and minimal debt, the company’s valuation appears disconnected from its earnings strength and asset base.
A key growth driver is its Nicaragua operation, where production is being constrained by processing capacity. A 50% expansion—from 1,750 to 2,500 tons per day—is underway to eliminate bottlenecks, with approximately 11,000 ounces already stockpiled for future processing. Costs have already declined משמעותfully as operations scale more efficiently.
Mineros is also advancing the Porvenir project, a $200 million development expected to produce 70,000 ounces annually, with strong projected returns. At the same time, the company is investing in a 100-kilometer exploration program while returning capital through a $30 million dividend and an $80 million share buyback.
Looking ahead, Mineros aims to increase production to 300,000 ounces in the near term and 500,000 ounces by 2030 through operational improvements, project development, and acquisitions. With solid cash flow, disciplined capital allocation, and visible growth pathways, the company positions itself as a mid-tier producer whose current valuation may not fully reflect its underlying potential.
Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/mineros-sa
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Interview with Colin Joudrie, CEO, Selkirk Copper Mines
Recording date: 8th May 2026
Selkirk Copper Mines is advancing the restart of a high-grade copper-gold-silver operation in Canada’s Yukon, targeting production by mid-2028. The project stands out for its exceptional geology, with copper grades ranging from 6% to 10% across more than 85 mineralized lenses, and recovery rates averaging 91%. These characteristics position Selkirk among the highest-grade copper producers globally, with concentrate grades of 39–40%, significantly above the industry average of 26–28%.
A major advantage lies in the project’s existing infrastructure. More than $330 million has already been invested in processing facilities, roads, and power, reducing restart capital requirements to roughly one-quarter of a comparable new development. This capital efficiency allows the company to focus spending on targeted upgrades and mine development rather than large-scale construction.
The project also features a groundbreaking partnership with the Selkirk First Nation, which holds approximately 20% equity in the company. This unique arrangement aligns community and corporate interests while unlocking exploration potential in a district that has seen little modern exploration for decades.
Recent drilling has reinforced confidence in the asset, achieving an 87% success rate across 175 holes, with results ranking among the best in the project’s history. These findings support a projected mine life of 12 to 15 years, with annual production targeted at around 30,000 tons of copper equivalent.
Following bankruptcy proceedings, the company emerged free of legacy financial burdens, including a gold-silver streaming agreement, enabling full exposure to favorable metal prices. Combined with strong market demand for high-quality copper concentrates, Selkirk is well positioned to secure flexible, non-dilutive financing through offtake agreements.
Overall, the project represents a rare combination of high-grade resources, existing infrastructure, and strong stakeholder alignment, offering a lower-risk path to near-term copper production.
Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/selkirk-copper
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Interview with Kiran Patankar, CEO, Maple Gold Mines
Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/maple-gold-mines-ltd-tsxvmgm-funded-drilling-targets-douay-update-maiden-joutel-mre-9451
Recording date: 7th May 2026
Maple Gold Mines has significantly expanded its gold resource base to 5.2 million ounces across its Douay and Joutel deposits in Quebec’s Abitibi greenstone belt, marking a major step in establishing itself as a leading undeveloped gold project in the region. The updated estimate reflects strong growth, with indicated resources increasing by 77% and inferred resources by 70%. Douay accounts for approximately 4 million ounces as a large-scale, lower-grade open-pit project, while Joutel contributes over 1 million ounces at grades exceeding 4 g/t, highlighting its high-grade underground potential.
The company is well-funded, holding around $35 million in cash, which is expected to support operations through 2027. This financial position enables an aggressive exploration strategy, including up to 80,000 meters of additional drilling following a recently completed 32,000-meter program. Notably, results from recent drilling have yet to be incorporated into the current resource estimate, suggesting further upside potential.
Maple is advancing a dual-track strategy that combines resource expansion with early-stage engineering studies. These efforts aim to inform a potential preliminary economic assessment (PEA), expected in the first half of 2026. The company is evaluating multiple development scenarios, including blending higher-grade underground ore from Joutel with lower-grade open-pit material from Douay to enhance overall project economics.
Strategically, Maple benefits from strong infrastructure advantages, including existing shafts at Joutel and proximity to regional milling facilities. Its partnership with Agnico Eagle, a major player in the Abitibi region, further strengthens its development outlook.
Despite these strengths, Maple trades at a significant discount to peers, at roughly $26–27 per ounce compared to $50–60 per ounce for similar companies, with recent acquisitions valued even higher. This valuation gap underscores potential upside as the company advances toward development and demonstrates economic viability.
Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/maple-gold-mines-ltd
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Interview with Brian Miller, CEO, Astra Exploration
Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/astra-exploration-tsxvastr-7500m-drilled-third-exploration-program-to-commence-9520
Recording date: 6th May 2026
Astra Exploration has secured $15 million in its largest financing to date, raising the funds near its all-time high share price and without issuing warrants—a strong signal of investor confidence. The financing was heavily oversubscribed, with $12.5 million coming from major institutional investors such as Schroders and Terra Capital. This backing reflects growing confidence in Astra’s geological model and disciplined exploration strategy at its flagship La Manchuria gold-silver project in southern Argentina.
La Manchuria presents a dual exploration opportunity. Near the surface, the project hosts a bulk tonnage gold-silver system, currently estimated at 146,000 gold-equivalent ounces at an average grade of about 2 grams per tonne, with significant room for expansion. At depth, Astra is targeting a high-grade feeder zone, where converging veins may indicate a richer “plumbing system” feeding the mineralization above. This concept, if confirmed, could significantly enhance the project’s economic potential, similar to other major discoveries in the region.
The company has launched its Phase 3 drilling program, targeting 5,000 to 7,000 meters, with the possibility of expanding to 20,000–30,000 meters over the next 12 to 18 months depending on results. Drilling focuses on both extending shallow mineralization and testing deeper convergence zones. Initial assay results are expected in July 2026 and will guide future exploration.
La Manchuria also benefits from strong infrastructure advantages, including proximity to two existing processing facilities and favorable topography that supports efficient open-pit mining. Combined with Argentina’s improving mining investment climate, Astra is well positioned to advance the project. The latest financing underscores institutional belief that the company’s methodical approach could unlock a significant gold-silver discovery.
Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/astra-exploration
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Interview with Sean Whiteford, CEO, NexMetals Mining
Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/nickel-enters-a-new-era-as-indonesia-tightens-supply-and-prices-surge-10057
Recording date: 8th May 2026
NexMetals Mining is advancing the redevelopment of its Selebi and Selkirk copper-nickel-PGM deposits in Botswana through a combination of metallurgical innovation and aggressive exploration. A key breakthrough has been the successful production of separate, saleable copper and nickel concentrates, eliminating the need for costly smelter construction. This shift significantly reduces capital requirements and execution risk, making the projects more feasible for a development-stage company.
The deposits currently host approximately 28 million tons grading over 3% copper equivalent, with ongoing drilling aimed at expanding the resource base. A newly identified “flexure zone” at Selebi Main, defined through modern geophysical techniques, represents a high-priority target with strong indications of extensive mineralisation. Wide-spaced drilling has already demonstrated the potential for rapid resource growth.
Metallurgical testing has delivered results well above previous assumptions, with copper recoveries improving to 88% from 70% and palladium to 78.5% from 59%. Additional payable metals, including cobalt, gold, and silver, further enhance project value. These improvements are expected to increase net smelter return values and lower cutoff grades in the upcoming resource update, strengthening overall project economics.
Backed by an $80 million financing, NexMetals is progressing toward a maiden preliminary economic assessment, which will outline capital costs, operating metrics, and returns under the new concentrate-based development plan. Analysts have set price targets ranging from $8.50 to over $12, suggesting potential upside from current levels.
Strategically, the company is evaluating options such as a joint venture or spin-out of the Selkirk asset to unlock value while focusing on Selebi. Botswana’s stable, mining-friendly environment, existing infrastructure, and streamlined permitting further support a potentially accelerated path to production compared to greenfield projects.
Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/nexmetals-mining-corp
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