EV Resources has locked in 200 tonnes of premium antimony ore near its Tecomatlán plant, setting the stage for its first commercial processing campaign under a five-year supply deal.
- 200 tonnes of high-grade antimony ore secured
- Ore grade between 13% and 16% Sb, above regional benchmarks
- Staged payment linked to delivery and processing milestones
- Tecomatlán plant circuits commissioned and ready for feed
- Option to acquire additional 300 tonnes from same stockpile
High-Grade Ore Secured to Kick Off Tecomatlán Campaign
EV Resources Limited (ASX:EVR) has taken a decisive step towards commercialising its Tecomatlán antimony processing plant in Mexico by securing 200 dry tonnes of high-grade ore from the Chinantla stockpiles near Puebla. This parcel, grading between 13% and 16% antimony, completes the final piece needed to commence the Proof-of-Concept (PoC) campaign, marking a shift from preparation to active testing.
The ore is conveniently located just 8 kilometres from the plant gate, facilitating swift haulage scheduled to begin within two weeks. The purchase agreement is structured to minimise upfront capital outlay, with only 12.5% payable on signing and the remainder tied to delivery and processing milestones. Final payment will be reconciled based on actual tonnes and grade processed, aligning expenditure with contained metal received.
Testing the Regional Hub Model with Real Ore
The Tecomatlán facility is designed as a regional processing hub servicing antimony miners across Puebla, Oaxaca, and Guerrero, who currently face haulage distances up to 1,200 kilometres to alternative plants. This initial ore purchase under a five-year binding supply agreement allows EVR to validate its commercial model end-to-end: buying third-party ore, processing it through its own flowsheet, and producing marketable concentrate.
Laboratory testwork on the Chinantla stockpile has previously delivered an 81.1% antimony recovery rate in flotation tests, with concentrate grades upgradeable to 62.9% Sb. Running this characterised, high-grade feed through the plant reduces the risk of inconclusive results and establishes a performance baseline before introducing lower-grade regional material. This approach could prove critical in demonstrating the viability of Tecomatlán’s low-capital, regional hub strategy.
Plant Commissioning and Operational Readiness
EVR has completed dry commissioning and testing of the crushing, grinding, and flotation circuits at Tecomatlán, with the plant mechanically ready to receive feed. The upcoming PoC campaign will generate crucial data on throughput, recovery, and concentrate quality, informing plans for scaling up to commercial production.
Executive Chairman Shane Menere emphasised the strategic importance of this milestone, noting that the campaign will produce the first marketable concentrate and provide real operating data to underpin future growth. The staged payment structure reflects a capital-efficient approach, ensuring that expenditure closely follows ore processing progress.
Optional Additional Feedstock and Strategic Positioning
The initial 200 tonnes form part of a larger 500-tonne stockpile, with an option to acquire an additional 300 tonnes pending successful commercialisation of the first parcel. EVR is under no obligation to purchase this further material, and terms remain to be agreed.
As antimony remains a critical mineral for the US, EU, and Australian governments, and supply tightens due to Chinese export controls introduced in 2024, Tecomatlán’s concentrate is positioned to fill a strategic supply gap for Western buyers seeking non-Chinese sources. EVR’s broader strategy also includes advancing its Los Lirios project as a proprietary feed source and leveraging its US assets in Nevada to build an integrated North American antimony platform.
Bottom Line?
EVR’s secured high-grade ore and commissioned plant set the stage for a critical test of its regional processing model, with operational data from the PoC campaign poised to shape the company’s commercial trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the Proof-of-Concept campaign meet targeted recovery and concentrate grade benchmarks?
- How quickly can EVR convert additional regional ore sources into binding supply agreements?
- What are the prospects for securing strategic offtake partners following concentrate production?