Company Interviews

Interview with Keith Boyle, Director & CEO of New Found Gold
Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/new-found-gold-tsxvnfg-205m-package-funds-queensway-to-production-9927
Recording date: 5th May 2026
New Found Gold has secured a total of $220 million in financing, combining a $105 million facility and a $115 million equity raise backed by prominent investors such as Eric Sprott. This funding fully covers the development of its flagship Queensway Gold project in Newfoundland, exceeding the $155 million capital expenditure outlined in its preliminary economic assessment. Importantly, the company does not need to draw the optional second tranche of financing, giving it additional financial flexibility as it advances toward production targeted for late 2027.
Queensway stands out for its high-grade ore, averaging 10 to 12 grams per ton in the शुरुआती years, which is significantly above industry norms. The project is expected to produce around 100,000 ounces of gold annually, with all-in sustaining costs estimated at $1,300 per ounce. At current gold prices, this translates into more than $2,300 in free cash flow per ounce, positioning Queensway as a high-margin operation with strong economic resilience.
In parallel, New Found Gold is progressing its Hammerdown mine toward commercial production in the second half of 2026. Ore from Hammerdown is processed at the Pine Cove mill, which is currently operating at 700 tons per day and is being expanded to 1,400 tons per day to support future Queensway output. This use of existing infrastructure reduces both development risk and capital requirements.
Key milestones include groundbreaking for the Pine Cove expansion by mid-2026 and securing an early works permit for Queensway by the third quarter of 2026. With minimal financing restrictions, strong investor backing, and a clear development roadmap, the company has established a well-defined and largely de-risked path to becoming a multi-asset gold producer.
View New Found Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/new-found-gold
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Interview with Paul Clarke, CEO, CanCambria Energy
Recording date: 14th May 2026
CanCambria Energy, a Canadian exploration and production company, is advancing a large-scale natural gas project in Hungary aimed at addressing Europe’s growing energy security concerns. As the European Union moves to eliminate reliance on Russian gas by the end of 2027, Hungary—currently importing up to 80% of its supply—faces a significant supply gap. CanCambria’s Kiskunhalas concession offers a potential domestic solution.
The company has identified approximately 750 billion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas within a deep tight gas formation, alongside 25 million barrels of oil in shallower conventional reservoirs. Its land position spans 247,000 acres, supported by modern 3D seismic data that has significantly reduced exploration risk and improved well targeting compared to earlier drilling efforts.
Economically, the project is highly attractive under European gas pricing conditions. Individual wells cost between $15 million and $18 million but can generate over $20 million in revenue within the first year at $10/MMBtu gas prices—well below current European levels of $14–15/MMBtu. Over their lifespan, wells are expected to yield $35–50 million in after-tax netbacks, with a breakeven price near $4/MMBtu, providing a strong margin of safety.
To accelerate development, CanCambria is finalizing a joint venture to fund its initial wells, with drilling expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. The project is designed to reach cash-flow positivity within the first few wells and scale to significant production levels.
In addition to deep gas, shallower oil targets offer quicker, lower-cost returns, enhancing overall project flexibility. With favorable fiscal terms, existing infrastructure access, and strong market demand, CanCambria is positioning itself as a key contributor to Europe’s transition toward more secure and diversified energy supplies.
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Recording date: 14th May 2026
The first quarter of 2026 marked a high point for the global mining sector, particularly for gold producers, which benefited from record production levels and strong cash flows. This performance was largely driven by a surge in gold prices, which averaged करीब $4,900 per ounce—up roughly 15% from the previous quarter. Major mining companies capitalized on these favorable conditions through share buybacks and acquisitions, signaling confidence in sustained profitability. However, this strong start is unlikely to persist.
By mid-May, gold prices had already declined by about $200 per ounce, while input costs—especially fuel—rose sharply. Analysts now expect margin compression in the second quarter, as rising operational expenses begin to outweigh the benefits of still-elevated commodity prices. Fuel costs, in particular, have increased between 50% and 100% in some regions, creating uneven impacts across mining operations.
The degree of exposure depends heavily on mine type and location. Underground, grid-connected mines face relatively minor cost increases, with fuel accounting for only 4–5% of expenses. In contrast, remote open-pit mines, which rely on diesel and other fuel-intensive processes, may see 30–40% of their cost structure affected. This creates significant disparities in profitability across the sector.
Geographically, Australia stands out as the most vulnerable major mining jurisdiction due to its reliance on imported fuel, which accounts for 91% of its refined product consumption. Other at-risk regions include Chile, Peru, and parts of Africa. Meanwhile, copper prices have reached record highs, likely reflecting market concerns about supply disruptions caused by rising energy costs and operational challenges.
Industry consolidation is also accelerating, highlighted by the Orla Mining–Equinox Gold merger. This trend reduces the number of mid-sized acquisition targets and underscores a growing scarcity of high-quality development projects, reshaping the competitive landscape for investors.
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Interview with Paul Lock, Managing Director, Flagship Minerals 
Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/flagship-minerals-asxflg-gold-copper-potential-in-chile-7407
Recording date: 13th May 2026
Junior exploration company Flagship Minerals has announced a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Isidora Gold project, located in Chile’s premier Maricunga gold belt. The update effectively doubles the project's resource to 2.1 million ounces of gold (115.2 million tons at 0.56 g/t) without a single meter of new exploration drilling.
The dramatic resource expansion was achieved entirely through economic remodeling. Flagship optimized the cutoff grade from 0.3 g/t to 0.16 g/t in the oxide zones to reflect modern, elevated gold prices. Managing Director Paul Lock noted that the original 2010 NI 43-101 resource was calculated in a $1,000/oz gold environment, whereas the updated figures use a conservative modern baseline. Approximately 80% of the pit-constrained resource is now classified in high-confidence measured and indicated categories.
Flagship is targeting a mine life of over 10 years, with a production profile of 125,000 to 150,000 ounces per year. The development strategy heavily reduces upfront capital expenditure by deploying low-cost heap leach processing for oxide and mixed materials during the first 5 to 6 years, before transitioning to sulfide treatment.
The project's economics are heavily benchmarked against Rio2's neighboring Fenix project. Flagship projects all-in sustaining costs (AISC) to sit comfortably below $1,500/oz, positioning Isidora in the bottom third of the global cost curve.
Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/flagship-minerals
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