New Pacific Metals Corp

New Pacific Metals released an updated preliminary economic assessment for its Carangas silver-gold project in Bolivia, showing an after-tax net present value of $2.65 billion and a 35.9% internal rate of return at base case metal prices. The mine plan forecasts production of 195 million payable ounces of silver, 1.1 million ounces of gold, 1.45 billion pounds of zinc, and 941 million pounds of lead, or 339 million silver equivalent ounces, over a 19-year life of mine, with average all-in sustaining costs projected at $19.16 per silver equivalent ounce. The updated PEA also envisions capital costs of $644.5 million and a post-tax payback of 2.4 years. BMO Capital analyst Kevin O'Halloran reiterated an Outperform rating on New Pacific, calling Carangas a key value driver, and noted the assessment meaningfully improves the project by adding the lower gold zone and increasing plant throughput. New Pacific said it will advance a 30,000-meter infill drill program while working to convert its exploration licenses into administrative mining contracts and begin the environmental impact assessment process.