Aura Minerals Announces the Results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Era Dorada Project

Core Viewpoint - Aura Minerals Inc. has filed a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for its wholly owned Era Dorada Project, previously known as the Cerro Blanco Project, indicating strong economic potential for the underground mining operation [1][3]. Group 1: Project Overview - The Era Dorada Project is located in Jutiapa, Guatemala, approximately 160 km from Guatemala City and 9 km from the El Salvador border, covering an area of 15.25 km² [4]. - The project is accessible year-round via the Pan-American Highway and is situated in a tropical dry forest climate with elevations between 450–560 meters above sea level [5]. Group 2: Economic Assessment Highlights - The PEA estimates a capital expenditure (Capex) of US$264 million, an after-tax net present value (NPV) of US$485 million, and an unleveraged after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 24% based on a gold price of US$2,410 per ounce [3][6]. - The project anticipates total production of approximately 1.4 million ounces of gold over a 17-year life of mine, with an average production of 91,000 ounces in the first four years [6]. Group 3: Mineral Resource Estimates - Indicated mineral resources are estimated at 1.9 million ounces of gold, based on 6.35 million tonnes at a grade of 9.31 grams per tonne [6][18]. - The project has a total initial implementation Capex of approximately US$264 million, with a payback period of about 3.5 years after operations commence [6]. Group 4: Historical Context and Development - The Era Dorada Project was initially identified by Mar-West in 1998 and has undergone extensive exploration and development by various companies, including Goldcorp and Bluestone Resources [10][8]. - As of the end of 2021, Bluestone had drilled approximately 267 holes totaling 45,725 meters on the property since acquiring it from Goldcorp [10]. Group 5: Environmental and Social Considerations - Aura is committed to collaborating with local authorities and government agencies to ensure that the Era Dorada Project meets high environmental and social standards under its Aura 360 culture [3][22].