Sunstone Metals (STM) Investor update summary
Event summary combining transcript, slides, and related documents.
Investor update summary
22 Apr, 2026Project highlights and economics
Bramaderos scoping study shows an after-tax NPV of US$0.9B (base case) to US$2.7B (spot), with IRRs of 28% and 50%, a 19-34 month payback, and a 23-year mine life.
Initial production averages 135,000 oz/year for the first 8 years, with all-in sustaining costs of US$1,499/oz and a low strip ratio of 1.4.
CapEx is estimated at US$511M, with construction expected to take 18 months and production targeted for 2031.
Life-of-mine post-tax free cash flow is estimated at US$2.4B (base case), with project economics most sensitive to gold price.
Project benefits from strong infrastructure, community support, and minimal environmental or social obstacles.
Resource growth and expansion potential
Current Mineral Resource Estimate is 3.6Moz AuEq at 0.5g/t, with drilling underway aiming for at least 5Moz in 2026 and long-term potential of 10Moz+.
Exploration Target of 5.0–13Moz AuEq, with expansion possible to 20–30Mtpa throughput and annual production scaling to 300,000–400,000 oz.
Resource growth focused at Melonal, Copete, and Porotillo, with further upside from additional porphyry and epithermal targets.
Limon deposit not included in current study but represents future upside pending further drilling and resource definition.
Resource conversion from Inferred to Indicated is considered highly probable due to porphyry geology.
Mining, processing, and cost structure
Open-pit mining with contractor-operated trucks and shovels, minimal pre-strip, and staged mining capacity up to 55Mtpa.
Processing plant designed for 10Mtpa, using SAB grinding, flotation, and CIP leach, with gold recovery averaging 85% and copper 75%.
Operating costs benchmarked against similar jurisdictions; low energy and labor costs in Ecuador.
Waste management includes encapsulation of acid-forming material and use of mine waste for TSF construction.
Flow sheet similar to Boddington and Telfer, with potential for further cost optimization.
Latest events from Sunstone Metals
- Resource growth in Ecuador, $2.3M loss, cash down to $2.7M, further capital raised for exploration.STM
H2 202431 Mar 2026 - Resource upgrades and new discoveries drive growth, despite a $2.4M net loss in FY2025.STM
H2 202531 Mar 2026 - Loss narrowed, cash up, and resource growth at key projects; future funding remains critical.STM
H1 202612 Mar 2026 - Bramaderos resource up 33% to 3.6Moz AuEq; $8M raised, drilling to resume at key targets.STM
Q2 2026 TU20 Jan 2026 - Major gold-copper projects in Ecuador advance with strong resources, low costs, and growth potential.STM
RRS Summer Series Melbourne4 Dec 2025 - Large-scale gold-copper projects in Ecuador advance with strong growth, funding, and low costs.STM
Noosa Mining Investor Conference16 Nov 2025 - Partnerships advance as exploration expands resources; cash at $2.2M, funding via equity.STM
Q1 2026 TU30 Oct 2025 - Large-scale gold-copper projects in Ecuador offer low-cost, multi-decade growth potential.STM
AGM 2025 Presentation23 Oct 2025 - Advancing two large-scale, low-cost gold-copper projects in Ecuador with strong growth potential.STM
RRS Gold Coast 202518 Sep 2025