Aya Gold & Silver Announces Commencement of Boumadine Feasibility Study and Accelerates Project Development

Core Viewpoint - Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is advancing the Boumadine polymetallic project in Morocco, entering the feasibility study phase following a positive preliminary economic assessment, with a focus on optimizing project design and refining cost estimates [1][2][3] Project Development - The feasibility-level work program aims to optimize project design and refine capital and operating cost estimates, supported by a multidisciplinary team of qualified professionals from established engineering firms [2] - The project combines open-pit and underground mining with a conventional flotation plant, primarily driven by precious metals, with estimated contributions of approximately 61% gold, 21% silver, 13% zinc, and 5% lead [3] Infill Drilling and Resource Estimation - Approximately 38,000 meters of drilling have been completed as part of a 360,000-meter infill drilling campaign, with a targeted 180,000-meter objective for the current year [5] - An updated mineral resource estimate is expected in the second half of 2026, informed by the ongoing drilling program [6] Metallurgical and Process Engineering - SGS is leading the metallurgical testwork program to optimize process parameters and support final process design criteria [7] - Lycopodium is retained for process engineering and plant design studies, focusing on flowsheet optimization and capital cost estimates [9] Geotechnical and Environmental Studies - RockEng is conducting geotechnical studies to refine mine design and ensure long-term stability [10] - SLR is leading the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process, with ongoing baseline activities to inform impact assessment and regulatory submissions [11] Water Supply and Tailings Management - Aya is advancing water supply studies, including sourcing from municipal supply and local wells, with assessments for a pipeline connection to nearby dams [13] - The Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) is being designed in accordance with Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) standards, expected to accommodate approximately 18.5 million tonnes of flotation tailings [14] Infrastructure and Access - A bid process has been initiated for detailed engineering of site access roads and supporting infrastructure, including electrical infrastructure planning [15] Upcoming Financial Release - Aya will release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on March 31, 2026, with a conference call scheduled for the same day [18]