PRECIOUS METALS

Inca One sees amnesty as opportunity

Peru-focused Inca One Gold (TSXV: IO) has reported record production after a “transformative year” and sees more opportunity for growth through the government’s further amnesty period for small-scale and artisanal miners.

Staff reporter
 Inca One Gold’s Chala One plant in Peru

Inca One Gold’s Chala One plant in Peru

The company purchases mill feed from government-registered small-scale producers and processes it at its Chala One and 90%-owned Kori One facilities in southern Peru.

It produced 24,850 ounces of gold in 2019, a 13% increase on 2018 and its third consecutive annual increase.

The company said the Peruvian government had created a further four-month period for new and existing miners to register and demonstrate their compliance with environmental and safety regulations and remit taxes on sales of extracted minerals.

"This window of opportunity represents potentially a significant increase in market supply of mineral rich material and an expanded customer base," Inca One said.

President and CEO Edward Kelly said the company had continued to invest in its plants, upgraded tailings facilities, replaced older equipment, integrated Kori One and focused on "right-sizing the business in preparation for our next phase of growth in 2020".

"This will transform Inca One from a small-scale processor towards a combined, larger-scale 450tpd operator," he said.

It had acquired the stake in the Koricancha mill from Equinox Gold in 2018.  

Inca One consolidated its shares on a 1 for 10 basis in January after its share price spent months below the C5c mark, the minimum level to allow for a financing, putting a constraint on its ability to raise capital "and in turn give confidence to current and future shareholders".

The company had a working capital deficit of US$1.8 million at October 31.

Its shares gained 8.3% on Friday to close at 19.5c, capitalising it about $5.2 million (US$3.9 million).

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.