Integra Resources (TSXV: ITR) - Three-Project Strategy Targets Quarter Million Ounces of Gold

Dec 4, 2024

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Interview with Jason Kosec, CEO of Integra Resources

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/integra-resources-tsxvitn-starting-to-demonstrate-scale-and-margin-3882

Recording date: 3rd of December, 2024

Integra Resources has transformed its business model through the acquisition of the Florida Canyon gold mine in Nevada, positioning itself for significant growth in the gold mining sector. The acquisition makes Integra an immediate gold producer while providing a platform for expansion to over 250,000 ounces of annual production through a sequence of projects.

Florida Canyon currently produces approximately 70,000 ounces of gold annually from oxide ores with a 7-year reserve life. Integra plans to invest $3.5 million in 2025 to optimize the operation through improved mining rates, recoveries, and costs. The company expects to produce 70-75,000 ounces in 2025 and will release an updated technical report and three-year guidance in early 2026.

The company's growth strategy centers on developing the DeLamar project in Idaho as its next major asset. A feasibility study is in progress, incorporating 42 million tons of stockpiled oxide ore that is expected to boost annual production to 135-140,000 ounces and extend the mine life. Integra aims to begin the permitting process by the end of 2025, with a targeted two-year timeline. The company's management emphasizes that DeLamar's permitting should be straightforward given its brownfield status and absence of major environmental concerns.

Further growth potential exists through the Nevada North project, which features a high resource conversion rate and could benefit from expedited permitting in Nevada. The company plans to advance long-lead items for this project as DeLamar development spending decreases.

A key advantage of the Florida Canyon acquisition is that it enables Integra to self-fund its growth initiatives through operational cash flow, eliminating the need for frequent equity raises that typically burden development-stage mining companies. This financial independence is expected to help Integra achieve a valuation more in line with producing peers, potentially moving from its current 0.22x P/NAV multiple toward the 0.4-0.6x range typical of producers.

The company's growth strategy aligns well with the current strong gold price environment, with gold trading around $2,500/oz in 2024. CEO Jason Kosec believes the company is positioned to unlock over a billion dollars in NAV at $2,000 gold as it executes its project sequence to reach its production target of 250,000 ounces per year.

Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/integra-resources