In its 2026 annual report, Cyprium Metals said it had commenced acid commissioning of the existing heap leach pads at Nifty after completing a direct injection leaching trial using pit water. The company said the trial demonstrated commercial-scale flow rates of about 250 cubic metres per hour and produced copper in solution of sufficient grade and quantity to support plant commissioning.
Cyprium said it expanded the production wellfield from 14 to 98 wells following the trial, providing access to about 1.7 million tonnes of leachable material. It said refurbishment of Train B of the SX-EW plant was substantially mechanically complete, with dry commissioning and water testing under way, while wet commissioning was advancing.
The company said it is evaluating options to increase cathode capacity from a targeted approximately 6,000 tonnes a year in Phase 1 towards approximately 20,000 tonnes a year. Cyprium noted that the figures refer to targeted SX-EW production capacity and are not a production target.
Source: Download CYM official ASX announcement, 2026-09-30.
File image from earlier MES coverage: Cyprium begins acid commissioning at Nifty copper restart. Not an image of the current announcement.