Excelsior approves construction on Gunnison copper mine in Arizona

Canada's Excelsior Mining gave final approval Friday to start construction on the Gunnison copper mine in Arizona after closing on US$75 million in financing for the project.

Jennex remains confident initial production will commence about a year from now.

While Excelsior does not have an offtake agreement, "at this time we expect the copper cathode would be put on the back of flatbed trucks and driven into Tucson, where there is a metal exchange," he said. "We will not ever have any difficulty selling our product."

Under the financing arrangement with Triple Flag Mining Financing Bermuda, Excelsior will receive initial gross proceeds of US$20 million.

Excelsior has issued to Triple Flag 3.5 million common share purchase warrants, whose five-year term began Friday. They entitle Triple Flag to purchase 3.5 million Excelsior common shares at a strike price of C$1.50 per share issued.

The Excelsior board's final decision to proceed with construction followed the financial closure.

"With the two crucial milestones of permitting and construction financing now behind us, we look forward to unlocking the remarkable economics of this project as we advance towards first copper production from the wellhead in 2019," Excelsior President and CEO Stephen Twyerould said.

source: S & P Global Platts