Critical Materials & Supply Chain▲
Metals Exploration targets December 2026 gold output at La India project
Metals Exploration has announced that development at its fully owned La India gold project in Nicaragua is progressing, with first production expected in December 2026. The company reported that structural, mechanical, piping and electrical installation for the process plant is approximately 50% complete, with the grinding building structure finished, the ball mill installed, and preparations for setting the semi-autogenous grinding mill under way. Installation of carbon-in-leach tank rings is 88% complete, while leach and detox tanks are 80% and 70% finished respectively, and civil works are 93% complete on bulk earthworks and 92% on civil foundations. A $27m equipment financing agreement has been secured with Banco de America Central, with $20.2m drawn down, and approximately 244,000 tonnes of ore has been stockpiled ahead of commissioning. Mining at the company's Runruno operation in the Philippines is forecast to meet the upper end of 2026 guidance due to higher-grade ore extraction in the stage five pit.