Silvercorp Delivers Robust PEA for Condor Gold Project in Ecuador
Rhea-AI Summary
Silvercorp (TSX: SVM) released a PEA for the Condor gold project in Ecuador showing an after-tax NPV(5%) of $522M and IRR 29% at base case metal prices ($2,600/oz Au). At near-spot prices ($4,300/oz Au) the study reports an after-tax NPV(5%) of $1,559M and IRR 61%. The PEA models a 13-year LOM producing ~1,375 koz payable gold, 5,266 koz payable silver, 95,656 klbs zinc and 8,448 klbs lead.
Key economics include initial capex $292M, sustaining capex $382M, post-tax payback of 3 years and average LOM AISC of $1,258/oz net of by-product credits. The study is preliminary and includes inferred resources, so economic outcomes are not guaranteed.
Positive
- After-tax NPV(5%) of $522M at $2,600/oz gold
- After-tax NPV(5%) of $1,559M at $4,300/oz gold
- After-tax IRR of 29% (base case) and 61% (near-spot)
- Projected 13-year mine life with ~1,375 koz payable gold
- Initial capital requirement of $292M with 3-year payback
Negative
- PEA includes inferred resources, making results speculative
- Life-of-mine sustaining capital of $382M raises total funding need
- NPV falls to $63M and IRR to 9% at $1,800/oz gold
- Net revenue largely dependent on gold: 93.4% contribution
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
SVM gained 2.25% while key silver peers were mixed: EXK -1.3%, MAG -1.96%, AG +0.81%, TGB +0.73%, MTAL 0%, indicating a more company-specific reaction.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 12 | CFO transition | Neutral | +4.9% | Retirement of longtime CFO and appointment of interim successor. |
| Nov 07 | Dividend declaration | Positive | +1.9% | Semi-annual dividend of US$0.0125 per share announced. |
| Nov 06 | Earnings report | Neutral | +0.7% | Q2 FY26 results with higher revenue and positive cash flow. |
| Oct 15 | Operations update | Neutral | +5.0% | Q2 operational metrics and upcoming financial release date. |
| Sep 26 | AGM results | Positive | +3.1% | Shareholders approved all AGM matters with strong director support. |
Recent corporate, operational, and earnings updates have generally coincided with positive share price moves, suggesting investors have rewarded news flow.
Over the last few months, Silvercorp has reported several developments alongside generally positive price reactions. Q2 Fiscal 2026 results on Nov 6, 2025 showed revenue of $83.3M and adjusted net income of $22.6M. A semi-annual dividend of US$0.0125 per share was declared on Nov 7, 2025. Governance events, including a CFO transition on Nov 12, 2025 and strong AGM voting results on Sep 26, 2025, also saw shares rise. The robust Condor PEA adds a growth-focused technical milestone to this trajectory.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details a robust PEA for the Condor project, highlighting after-tax NPV (5%) of $522M at base case prices, rising to $1,559M at near-spot prices, with a 13-year mine life and projected net revenue of $3,623M. The study remains preliminary and relies on mineral resources, so outcomes are not guaranteed. Recent history shows investors responding positively to operational and financial updates, while project execution, permitting progress, and future cost revisions remain key metrics to monitor.
Key Terms
preliminary economic assessment technical
mineral resource estimate technical
ni 43-101 regulatory
all-in sustaining cost financial
carbon-in-pulp technical
cyanidation technical
tailings storage facility technical
net smelter return financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Trading Symbol: TSX/NYSE American: SVM
Vancouver, BC, Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Silvercorp Metals Inc. (TSX: SVM) ("Silvercorp" or the "Company") is pleased to report the results of its Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Condor gold project (the "Project") in
Highlights from the PEA are as follows (all figures in US Dollars):
- After-tax net present value ("NPV") (
5% ) of $522 million and an after-tax internal rate of return ("IRR") of29% at base case metal prices of /ounce ("oz") gold,$2,600 /oz silver,$31.00 /pound ("lb") zinc, and$1.27 /lb lead;$0.91 - After-tax net present value ("NPV") (
5% ) of $1,559 million and an after-tax internal rate of return ("IRR") of 61% at near spot metal prices of /oz gold,$4,300 /oz silver,$60.00 /lb zinc, and$1.27 /lb lead;$0.91
- After-tax net present value ("NPV") (
- 13-year life of mine ("LOM"), producing approximately 1,375 thousand ounces ("koz") of payable gold, 5,266 koz of payable silver, 95,656 thousand pounds ("klbs") of payable zinc and 8,448 klbs of payable lead;
- Initial capital costs of
and a post-tax payback of 3 years starting from commercial production;$292 million - Average LOM all-in sustaining cost ("AISC") of
/oz net of by-product credits.$1,258
The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. As such there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized.
Economic Results and Sensitivities
Table 1 shows key assumptions and summarizes the projected production and economic results of the PEA. Tables 2 and 3 show sensitivities to gold prices and operating and capital costs.
Table 1: Condor Underground Mine – Key Economic Assumptions and Results
Item | Unit | Value |
Gold Price | $/oz | 2,600 |
Silver Price | $/oz | 31 |
Zinc Price | $/lb | 1.27 |
Lead Price | $/lb | 0.91 |
Total Mill Feed | Mt | 21.34 |
Annual Processing Rate | Mtpa | 1.8 |
Average Gold Grade1 | g/t | 2.15 |
Average Silver Grade 1 | g/t | 14.20 |
Gold Recovery 1 | % | 93.9 |
Total Payable Gold | koz | 1,375 |
Total Payable Silver | koz | 5,266 |
Total Payable Zinc | klbs | 95,656 |
Total Payable Lead | klbs | 8,448 |
Mine Life2 | Yrs | 13 |
Average Annual Payable Equiv. Gold Metal over LOM | koz | 114 |
Net Revenue | $M | 3,623 |
Net Revenue Contribution from Gold | % | 93.4 % |
All-in Sustaining Costs3 | $/Oz AuEq | 1,359 |
Government Royalties | $/Oz AuEq | 128.2 |
Profit Sharing State | $/Oz AuEq | 110 |
Profit Sharing Employee | $/Oz AuEq | 28 |
Income Tax | $/Oz AuEq | 195 |
Initial Capital Costs | $M | 292 |
Sustaining Capital Costs | $M | 382 |
Payback Period (after-tax)4 | Yrs | 3 |
Cumulative Net Cash Flow (pre-tax) | $M | 1,156 |
Cumulative Net Cash Flow (after-tax) | $M | 865 |
After-tax NPV ( | $M | 522 |
After-tax IRR | % | 29 |
NPV ( | $:$ | 1.8 |
Notes | |
1. | LOM average. |
2. | Excludes 2 years pre-production period. |
3. | Based on World Gold Council June 27,2013 Press Release: "Guidance Note on Non-GAAP Metrics - All-In Sustaining Costs and All-in Costs". All-In Sustaining Costs include offsite costs, site operating costs, and sustaining capex costs. |
4. | The payback period is measured from the beginning of production after construction is completed. |
Table 2: Condor Project Economic Sensitivity Analysis for Gold Prices – After-Tax
Gold Price ($/ounce) | 1,800* | 2,000 | 2,600 | 3,200 | 3,800* | 4,300* |
NPV @ | 63 | 178 | 522 | 866 | 1,210 | 1,497 |
IRR | 9 % | 15 % | 29 % | 41 % | 51 % | 60 % |
Note: * beyond ± |
Table 3: Condor Project Economic Sensitivity Analysis for Costs – After-Tax
Cost Sensitivity | |||||||
Sensitivity Items | -30 % | 20 % | 10 % | (Base Case) | +10 % | +20 % | +30 % |
Site Opex (NPV-$M ( | 735/ | 664/ | 593/ | 522/ | 452/ | 381/ | 310/ |
Life-of-Mine Capex (NPV-$M ( | 657/ | 612/ | 567/ | 522/ | 477/ | 432/ | 387/ |
Capital and Operating Costs
The Project contemplates an underground operation, with mining to be carried out by a contract mining company, supplying mill feed to a carbon-in-pulp (CIP) cyanidation circuit integrated with a gravity concentrator to preconcentrate coarse nugget gold. Sequential, selective flotation is also included to recover residual silver, lead and zinc from the cyanide leach residue, to produce marketable silver-lead and zinc concentrates, respectively. The PEA anticipates the Project will have several capital and operating cost advantages:
- The area of mineralization is located roughly at the same elevation as the development portal. This will allow for development to proceed into the mineralized material without having to ramp down. This reduces the length and the cost of the main ramp (as shown in Figure 1 below).
- Mineralized material is steeply dipping with reasonably good continuities both vertically and horizontally, with approximately one-third of ROM material above the main haulage level, providing efficient access for haulage, ventilation, and services.
- The rock mass conditions are generally Fair to Good and overall saprolite cover in the project area is thin, 2-5 m on average. The rock mass conditions support high production and low cost longhole open stope production.
- Underground development and mining will be done by a contractor with current operations in
Ecuador , eliminating the need for the Company to procure a mining fleet and allocate sustaining capital for fleet replacement. - Test work shows that the mineralized samples are amenable to a gravity and cyanidation combined process. The overall gold recovery is expected to be higher than
90% . The cyanide leaching kinetic is rapid and cyanide consumption is moderate. In addition, mineralization is amenable to metal recovery by flotation. A combined process of gravity concentration + cyanidation + flotation is proposed for the mineralization. - The site is readily accessible to local roads and approximately five km from the national road network.
A summary of operating costs is shown in Table 4.
Table 4: Total Operating Cost Estimate
Item | Cost ($/t milled) |
Mining | 41.01 |
Processing | 18.36 |
Water Management | 0.68 |
Mining Supervision Fees | 0.82 |
Conservation Fees | 0.08 |
Other Site General and Administration | 13.50 |
Total site operating cost | 74.45 |
Refining and Freight Cost | 2.51 |
Royalties | 8.94 |
Profit Sharing State and employee | 9.60 |
Total operating cost | 95.51 |
A summary of capital costs is shown in Table 5.
Table 5: Total Capital Cost Estimate
Item | Cost ($M) |
Mine development | 71 |
Processing plant | 118 |
Tailings Storage Facility ("TSF") | 18 |
Other On and Off-Site infrastructure | 74 |
G&A | 10 |
Total Initial capital | 292 |
Life of mine sustaining capital | 382 |
Note: Contingency is included in each line item based on previous experience and industry standards |
Mining
The Condor project is proposed to be a contractor-operated underground mining operation that accesses the Camp and Los Cuyes deposits through a portal located at approximately 1,100 m elevation. Mining is based on updated geological block models and net smelter return (NSR) values that incorporate metal prices, metallurgical recoveries, and operating cost assumptions. The design employs mechanized longhole open stoping, using a combination of transverse primary–secondary stoping and longitudinal retreat stoping depending on the geometry and thickness of the mineralized veins. Stope envelopes were established using NSR mill-feed cut-off values of
Figure 1: Condor Underground Mine Layout Showing Mining Blocks (Looking Northwest)
Source: SRK, 2025
Note: The metals prices used in the initial NSR calculations for stope assessment, mine design, and scheduling in this PEA are
Collaring of the portal, marking the start of the underground construction period, is scheduled to begin nine months after the start of mill construction. The total ROM material mined from Year -1 through Year 1 is estimated at approximately 1.37 million tonnes (Mt), aligning with the planned mill construction and commissioning schedule.
The mine is designed to achieve a steady-state production rate of 1.80 million tonnes per year, equivalent to 5,000 tonnes per day. Commercial production is scheduled to commence in Year 1, with full ramp-up reached in Year 2. The projected life-of-mine (LOM) is approximately 13 years, excluding the 2 year construction period, and the operating schedule assumes 360 working days per year. The total ROM material over the mine life is estimated at 21.33 Mt, with an average NSR of
Figure 2: Condor ROM Production Profile
Source: SRK, 2025
A total of 12.34 Mt of backfill will be required over the mine life. This material will consist of approximately 3.70 Mt of development waste supplemented by 8.65 Mt of riverbed gravels. As a result, no waste rock is expected to remain on the surface upon completion of operations.
Material handling will be achieved using a truck-haulage fleet, with 50-tonne trucks transporting ROM material directly to the surface for discharge onto the mill ROM pad. Waste rock will be hauled by 30-tonne ejector-type trucks and either placed into mined-out stopes for backfilling or temporarily stored on the surface until suitable backfill voids become available. Backfill will be sourced primarily from development waste, supplemented as necessary with aggregate from nearby river beds.
The mine ventilation system is designed to deliver approximately 675 cubic metres per second of airflow, including allowances for leakage and operational transitions. Separate fresh air and return air systems will service each of the Camp and Los Cuyes deposits, constructed using raise-boring methods.
Mineral Processing
The proposed process plant will treat the mineralized material at a milling rate of 5,000 t/d, or 1.8 Mt/a, with an average LOM head grade of 2.15 g/t gold and 14.2 g/t silver. A two-stage grinding circuit (a SAG mill with pebble recycling and a ball mill), integrated with a gravity concentrator, is proposed to grind the cyanide leach feed to
Mineral Resource Estimate
The Mineral Resource estimate that was previously reported in May 2025, with an effective date of February 28, 2025, has been revised for this report using an updated assessment of the reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The updated parameters include revised metals price assumptions and mining methods in accordance with the assumptions used in the PEA study. The underground Mineral Resources at the Los Cuyes and Camp deposits are reported within stope optimizations that reflect a simplified set of parameters from the PEA mining study and updated metal prices. The Mineral Resource estimates for the underground and open pit deposits are shown in Table 6 and Table 7.
Six additional holes have been drilled at Los Cuyes, but the Mineral Resource estimates have not been updated using this data at present. The qualified person reviewed the additional exploration data and is of the opinion that the new information generally aligns with the previous interpretation of the mineralized shears, and would not be expected to have a material impact on the Mineral Resource estimate.
Table 6: Mineral Resource as of November 30, 2025
Tonnes | Average Grade | Contained Metal | |||||||||
Deposit | (Mt) | AuEq | Au | Ag | Pb | Zn | AuEq | Au | Ag | Pb | Zn |
(g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | ( %) | ( %) | (koz) | (koz) | (koz) | (lb'000) | (lb'000) | ||
Indicated | |||||||||||
Camp | 5.93 | 2.46 | 1.94 | 15.51 | 0.06 | 0.61 | 469 | 370 | 2,956 | 7,914 | 79,864 |
Los Cuyes | 4.22 | 2.07 | 1.84 | 11.06 | 0.05 | 0.36 | 280 | 249 | 1,500 | 4,301 | 33,067 |
Total | 10.15 | 2.30 | 1.90 | 13.66 | 0.05 | 0.50 | 749 | 620 | 4,456 | 12,215 | 112,931 |
Inferred | |||||||||||
Camp | 20.04 | 2.42 | 1.87 | 14.83 | 0.05 | 0.68 | 1,558 | 1,202 | 9,558 | 23,042 | 298,873 |
Los Cuyes | 10.06 | 2.63 | 2.37 | 13.26 | 0.07 | 0.36 | 849 | 767 | 4,287 | 14,936 | 80,696 |
Total | 30.10 | 2.49 | 2.03 | 14.31 | 0.06 | 0.57 | 2,407 | 1,969 | 13,846 | 37,978 | 379,569 |
Source: compiled by SRK, 2025
Notes: | |
1. | CIM Definition Standards (2014) were used for reporting the Mineral Resources. |
2. | The qualified person (as defined in NI 43-101) for the purposes of the MRE is Mark Wanless, Pr.Sci.Nat, Principal Geologist with SRK Consulting. |
3. | The resource statement does not include mineralization in the Halo domain of the Los Cuyes, and its economic potential remains to be further investigated in future studies. |
4. | The stope optimization uses the mining costs listed in Table 4 and the processing recoveries applied to the mining study summarized in the previous section. The optimization was generated using simplified mining rules, such as no pillars, no Equivalent Linear Overbreak (ELOS), uniform stope length and maximizing stope width. |
5. | Optimizations are undertaken using a gold price of USD/oz 3,000, silver price of USD/oz 40, zinc price of USD/lb 1.47 and lead price of USD/lb 1.05. |
6. | Drilling results up to February 28, 2025. |
7. | The numbers may not compute exactly due to rounding. |
8. | Mineral Resources are reported on a dry in-situ basis. |
9. | Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. |
Next Steps
1. Environmental Permitting
Over the course of 2025, the Company has advanced work on the environmental impact assessment required for a new environmental permit, which would authorize underground development for exploitation at a small mining scale . Currently, the environmental impact study (EIS) has been approved by the ministry of environment (MAE) and the Company is engaged in the Participation Process of Citizens (PPC) with the directly-impacted communities surrounding the project. It is expected that it will take 3-4 months to complete the consultation process. The environmental permit for exploitation – which will allow underground development, will be issued after the successful completion of the PPC.
2. Underground Development
With the environmental permit for exploitation in place, the Company will start developing underground access tunnels into the Camp and Los Cuyes deposits. These tunnels will enable underground drilling to upgrade mineral resources and explore the on-strike and down-dip extension of the known mineralized zones at both deposits, supporting further pre-feasibility and feasibility technical studies.
Qualified Persons
The qualified persons for the PEA are Mr. Mark Wanless, FGSSA, Pr.Sci.Nat, Principal Geologist with SRK Consulting (
Further details supporting the PEA will be available in an NI 43‐101 Technical Report which will be posted under the Company's profile at sedarplus.com within 45 days of this news release.
This news release has been reviewed and approved by Guoliang Ma, P. Geo., Manager of Exploration and Resource of the Company who is the designated qualified person for the Company.
About Silvercorp
Silvercorp is a Canadian mining company producing silver, gold, lead, and zinc with a long history of profitability and growth potential. The Company's strategy is to create shareholder value by 1) focusing on generating free cash flow from long life mines; 2) organic growth through extensive drilling for discovery; 3) ongoing merger and acquisition efforts to unlock value; and 4) long term commitment to responsible mining and ESG. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorpmetals.com.
For further information
Silvercorp Metals Inc.
Lon Shaver
President
Phone: (604) 669-9397
Toll Free 1(888) 224-1881
Email: investor@silvercorp.ca
Website: www.silvercorpmetals.com
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING RESULTS OF PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT
The results of the PEA contained herein were prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and prepared by certain qualified persons associated with SRK and Tetra Tech and are preliminary in nature and are intended to provide an initial assessment of the Project's economic potential and development options of the Project. The PEA mine schedule and economic assessment includes numerous assumptions and is based on both indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources. Inferred resources are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessments described herein will be achieved or that the PEA results will be realized. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. Mineral resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Additional exploration will be required to potentially upgrade the classification of the Inferred Mineral Resources to be considered in future advanced studies. SRK (mineral resource, infrastructure, tailings, water management, environmental and financial analysis) was contracted to conduct the PEA in cooperation with JJ Metallurgical Services (Metallurgy). The qualified persons for the PEA for the purposes of NI 43-101 are Mr. Mark Wanless, FGSSA, Pr.Sci.Nat, Principal Geologist with SRK Consulting (
CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER - FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release does not constitute, and is not, an offer or solicitation of an offer of securities.
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to, among other things, without limitation, statements regarding the results of the PEA and the timing of the filing of the PEA; expectations regarding the Project; estimates regarding Mineral Resources; anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, underground development, mineral processing and other activities or achievements of the Company; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals; life-of-mine projections; and estimates of the Company's revenues and capital expenditures; and other future plans, objectives or expectations of the Company. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may in some cases be identified by words such as "will", "anticipates", "expects", "intends" and similar expressions suggesting future events or future performance.
We caution that all forward-looking information is inherently subject to change and uncertainty and that actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including fluctuating commodity prices; recent market events and condition; estimation of mineral resources, mineral reserves and mineralization and metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; climate change; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into existing operations; permits and licences for mining and exploration in
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US INVESTORS
This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in
A comprehensive discussion of risks that impact Silvercorp, and additional information relating to the Company including Silvercorp's Annual Information Form can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at www.silvercorpmetals.com
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SOURCE Silvercorp Metals Inc.


