Cabral Gold nears final investment decision on Cuiú Cuiú starter heap‑leach

Cuiú Cuiú, Tapajós region, Pará, Brazil, September 25, 2025

News Summary

Cabral Gold is nearing a final investment decision on a starter heap‑leach oxide operation at its Cuiú Cuiú gold district in the Tapajós region of Pará, Brazil. The prefeasibility study models a low‑cost, near‑surface starter producing about 18,500 ounces per year from a ~1 Mtpa plant with a compact payback profile; management cites an even faster payback under current prices. Initial capital is reported near US$37.7–40+ million with construction financing advancing and long‑lead items ordered. Cabral controls roughly 5,500 hectares and a consolidated ~1.2Moz resource base while running active drilling and pursuing district exploration upside.

Cabral Gold nears final investment decision on Cuiú Cuiú heap‑leach starter with strong margin and rapid payback

Cabral Gold Corporation is moving toward a final investment decision on a heap‑leach oxide starter at its Cuiú Cuiú gold district in northern Brazil, with management citing unusually large per‑ounce profit margins and a very short capital payback window. The company says the starter plan has estimated profit margins near US$2,500 per ounce at current gold prices and that initial capital could be recovered in months rather than years depending on the scenario.

Key takeaways

The prefeasibility study (PFS) outlines a starter oxide operation processing roughly 1 million tonnes per year and producing about 18,500 ounces of gold annually over a 6.2‑year starter life. Reported all‑in sustaining costs are about US$1,200–1,210 per ounce. Initial capital is shown at roughly US$37.7 million, while company statements describe the funding need variously as just under US$40 million or slightly above US$40 million.

Economics and timelines

The PFS economics present a robust project profile: an after‑tax internal rate of return of about 78% at US$2,500/oz and a reported net present value on the oxide component in the tens of millions of dollars. Company management reports even stronger returns at higher gold prices and has highlighted a five‑month payback on initial capital at current prices; the PFS model shows a roughly 10‑month payback in one scenario. Cabral plans a 12‑month construction schedule and is pursuing construction funding now, expecting financing arrangements within weeks to months and a construction decision within the next couple of months.

Resource base and technical filings

Cabral controls 100% of the Cuiú Cuiú district, holding about 5,500 hectares. The consolidated resource base stands at roughly 1.2 million ounces of gold across multiple deposits. Resource figures filed as NI 43‑101 technical reports include:

• Indicated (fresh basement): 12.29 Mt at 1.14 g/t Au = 450,200 oz
• Indicated (oxide): 13.56 Mt at 0.50 g/t Au = 216,182 oz
• Inferred (fresh basement): 13.63 Mt at 1.04 g/t Au = 455,100 oz
• Inferred (oxide): 6.4 Mt at 0.34 g/t Au = 70,569 oz

The primary fresh material resource is based on a 2022 NI 43‑101 report, while oxide estimates for portions of the district were updated in reports dated October 2024 and July 29, 2025. The filed NI 43‑101 for the updated PFS shows no material differences from the July 29, 2025 news release presenting the study.

Exploration upside and recent drilling

Cabral describes the district as having substantial exploration upside. The company has identified four new discoveries and says there are about 50 additional targets that returned encouraging gold values from trenches and drill holes. Three drill rigs are active across the district. Recent high‑grade intercepts reported by the company include multi‑meter hits such as 11 m at 33 g/t Au, 12 m at 27 g/t Au, 39 m at 5.1 g/t Au, and 22 m at 4.8 g/t Au among others.

Development approach and construction details

The project plan centres on a heap leach processing route with four rotating heaps on a 120‑day cycle to allow operational adjustments. A processing plant is being built in Australia, to be commissioned there, containerised and shipped to Brazil for site installation. Cabral is combining in‑house execution with an engineering partner and has engaged experienced local and international personnel to handle permitting and construction. Long‑lead items have already been ordered to help meet the 12‑month build target.

Financing and corporate notes

Management intends to fund construction principally with debt and a possible equity component, and says construction financing is at advanced stages. Company projections indicate starter operation cashflow should support ongoing exploration across the district, with management estimating annual post‑tax cash flow figures in the tens of millions of dollars under current gold price assumptions. Insider and board actions disclosed include a personal cash investment by the chief executive and a board approval of stock options totalling 1,475,000 options exercisable over five years with a 24‑month vesting schedule.

Regional context and risk

Cuiú Cuiú lies in the Tapajós region of Pará state, adjacent to an operating nearby mine that entered production recently and produces at a much larger annual rate. The Tapajós province has a long history of placer gold production. While the starter oxide case is presented as a lower‑risk, capital‑efficient route to production, risks remain around financing, construction execution, permitting and ongoing exploration outcomes that would be required to materially expand the resource beyond the current ~1.2 million ounces.

FAQ

{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “FAQPage”,
“mainEntity”: [
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What decision is Cabral close to making?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The company is approaching a final investment decision to build a heap‑leach starter operation based on an updated prefeasibility study and related NI 43‑101 filings.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What will the starter operation look like?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The starter is an oxide heap‑leach plant that would process about 1 million tonnes per year and target roughly 18,500 ounces of gold per year for about 6.2 years from near‑surface oxide material.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How much will it cost and how fast will it pay back?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Initial capital in the PFS is about US$37.7 million, with company statements referencing amounts near US$40 million. Management suggests a payback measured in months under current gold prices; the PFS presents a roughly 10‑month payback in one scenario.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What are the project economics?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Reported AISC sits around US$1,200–1,210 per ounce. The PFS shows an after‑tax IRR of about 78% at US$2,500/oz and a positive NPV on the oxide case. Economics are sensitive to gold price and resource additions.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How big is the resource and can it grow?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The consolidated resource is about 1.2 million ounces across indicated and inferred categories. The company is actively drilling and targets doubling that resource within 12–18 months through ongoing exploration.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “When could construction and first gold occur?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Cabral plans a 12‑month construction schedule and has targeted first gold by the end of 2026, assuming finance and permitting proceed on the current timeline.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What operational and permitting steps are being taken?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “A processing plant is being built and commissioned in Australia before shipment to Brazil. The company has added experienced personnel for permitting and construction and is working with an engineering partner for execution.”
}
}
]
}

Key project features

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

Additional Resources

• Newsfile: Cabral Gold files NI 43‑101 for updated PFS at Cuiú Cuiú
• Wikipedia: Cabral Gold
• Kitco: Cabral Gold’s Cuiú Cuiú project — set for growth as gold soars
• Google Search: Cabral Gold Cuiú Cuiú
• Streetwise Reports: Gold miner has massive high‑grade gold in Brazil
• Google Scholar: Cabral Gold Cuiú Cuiú
• Resource World: Cabral Gold files NI 43‑101 technical report for updated PFS
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Cabral Gold Cuiú Cuiú
• Crux Investor: Cabral Gold — two‑stage development strategy
• Google News: Cabral Gold Cuiú Cuiú

Author: Construction NY News

NEW YORK STAFF WRITER The NEW YORK STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at constructionnynews.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New York and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the New York Build Expo, infrastructure breakthroughs, and cutting-edge construction technology showcases. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Associated General Contractors of New York State and the Building Trades Employers' Association, plus leading businesses in construction and real estate that power the local economy such as Turner Construction Company and CMiC Global. As part of the broader network, including constructioncanews.com, constructiontxnews.com, and constructionflnews.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic construction landscape across multiple states.