The area , known as Zone Five , was acquired through the acquisition of Hana Mining back in 2013 and falls within the Khoemacau project . This has since become the company ’ s flagship operation . The Zone Five starter project is the first phase of a major expansion and exploration development of the zone .

This initial phase will look to average around 50,000 tonnes per annum of copper and in excess of 1.4 million tonnes per annum of silver . Cupric will look to mine around 10,000 tonnes per day through an underground mine that can be accessed via three interconnected underground mines . Following the completion of the starter project , Cupric will move onto a major expansion project , one that will see the annual mining output rise to 80,000 tonnes per annum of copper and 2.4 million tonnes per annum of silver . Such a significant expansion will no doubt cement Cupric as not only a major player , but potentially the major player .

Having a significant mining operation , with a significant capacity for production , is one thing but a mining operation is nothing if it is not worth it with regards to costs and revenue .

Well , Cupric has that covered . With production earmarked for a 2019 start date , Cupric has estimated capital costs at around $ 350 million for the Starter Project . Looking beyond that , Zone Five has a mine life of 27 years and cash costs over those 27 years are estimated at around $ 1.00 per pound of copper .

40 August 2017