EV Resources (ASX: EVR) has materially advanced its Tecomatlán Processing Plant in Oaxaca, Mexico after completing dry commissioning of all three refurbished ball mills and securing its first third-party feedstock framework agreement.
The milestones strengthen the company’s pathway to targeted first antimony concentrate production in the second half of calendar year 2026.
The successful dry commissioning of the grinding circuit—which forms the central stage of the processing flowsheet—confirms mechanical integrity across all three mills ahead of the introduction of process water, slurry, and antimony ore feed.
EV Resources has also executed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the purchase and sale of antimony ore from a nearby operation located approximately 8km from the Tecomatlán plant.
Tecomatlán forms part of a broader antimony-focused portfolio that includes Los Lirios, located 50km from the plant, and the 100%-owned Dollar and Milton antimony projects in Nevada.
Mills Ready for Next Stage
Phase 1 refurbishment at Tecomatlán has reached a pivotal stage, with only minor gear adjustments remaining before wet commissioning begins.
The three ball mills were included in the original plant acquisition, are new and have never been used.
Their dry commissioning moves the plant closer to operational readiness and supports the broader plant upgrade program.
The first of two Falcon gravity concentrators has also been crated and is being prepared for shipment to site, where the units will form the core of the antimony concentration circuit.
Feedstock MoU Framework
EV Resources’ Mexican subsidiary Stibcorp has executed the feedstock MoU with an experienced local private mining group.
The agreement covers low-grade material grading 5% to 29% antimony and high-grade material grading above 30% antimony, to be delivered to Tecomatlán at approximately 6-inch particle size.
Initial supply is expected to total approximately 500 tonnes per week, or around 2,000t per month, grading approximately 5% antimony.
The nearby operation has existing mining equipment and active production, with current activities involving the mining, sorting, and transport of high-grade material to San Luis Potosí.
Start-Up Risk Reduced
The feedstock agreement reduces operational start-up risk by providing an initial third-party ore supply ahead of commissioning, while also supporting plant utilisation during ramp-up while EV advances its Los Lirios antimony project toward a maiden JORC mineral resource estimate.
The Tecomatlán plant has been designed to process ore from multiple sources, allowing the company to fast-track production through regional third-party material before eventually processing Los Lirios ore.
EV is conducting metallurgical recoveries on representative samples from the nearby operation to establish likely plant performance, and will now work to receive the Falcon gravity concentrator on site.
The company will also advance metallurgical and characterisation studies on third-party feedstock options as it continues discussions with regional miners for additional third-party feedstock.
Regional Supply Strategy
The company is advancing discussions with additional regional third-party miners across Oaxaca and neighbouring states to secure further ore supply agreements, reducing the plant’s reliance on any single ore source and supporting stronger utilisation rates ahead of Los Lirios reaching full production.
The surrounding region has a long history of high-grade antimony production, and the Tecomatlán plant offers local producers a nearby processing option that could reduce transport costs to plants in northern Mexico.
The first feedstock MoU will act as a framework for future definitive purchase contracts and ore delivery orders, with pricing to be determined shipment by shipment based on antimony grade, moisture content, impurity levels and prevailing market conditions following independent assay.
EV Resources managing director Mike Brown said the dry commissioning milestone marked a critical step in the plant refurbishment project.
“The grinding circuit is the heart of the operation — getting it running cleanly means every subsequent step towards first concentrate is now within reach,” Mr Brown said.
“Importantly, securing an initial feedstock framework alongside commissioning progress materially improves our operational readiness and provides increasing confidence in the pathway toward sustainable first production.”
