Skip to main content

Kootenay Silver's 14-Year Mine Plan

VRIC Media Jul 19, 2026

Summary

A mine life beyond 10 years gives a project time to ride out commodity cycles and fix startup problems, the guest argues.

Kootenay Silver's La Saguera PEA (Preliminary Economic Assessment — an early economics study) outlines a 14-year mine life averaging 4.5 million silver ounces yearly.

The first five years are expected to run above 6 million ounces of silver — pure silver ounces, not silver-equivalent.

Key points on Kootenay Silver Inc

  • The CEO says the newly launched PEA for La Saguera shows positive economics with a 14-year mine life.
  • Per the PEA, production averages 4.5 million ounces of silver a year over the 14 years, with the first five years above 6 million ounces annually.
  • He stresses these are pure silver ounces, not silver-equivalent.
  • He argues a mine life beyond 10 years gives the company time to ride out commodity cycles, convert more ounces to reserve, and work through startup issues.

Mr. James M. McDonald B.Sc., P.Geo., P.Geol.'s takeaways

  • Top takeaway He argues the 14-year mine life at La Saguera matters because it gives time to go through a couple of cycles, bring more ounces into reserve, and resolve startup issues.
  • He highlights the PEA's production profile of 4.5 million ounces of silver a year on average, with over 6 million ounces in the first five years.
  • He emphasizes the ounces are pure silver rather than silver-equivalent when presenting the PEA economics.

James McDonald's takeaways

  • Top takeaway The CEO calls the La Saguera PEA economics really positive and sees a mine life over 10 years as what the investment community wants to see.
  • He points to average production of 4.5 million ounces of silver per year, front-loaded with over 6 million ounces annually in the first five years.
  • He notes the longer mine life also creates room to find additional ounces and extend the mine life further.