Interview with Chris Stevens, CEO of Coda Minerals Ltd.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/coda-minerals-compelling-junior-unlocking-value-in-south-australian-copper-cobalt

Recording date: 15th April 2025

Coda Minerals is making significant progress on its Elizabeth Creek copper-cobalt-silver project in South Australia, positioning the resource for development amid growing global demand for critical minerals. Located six hours north of Adelaide and adjacent to BHP's Carrapateena Copper Project, Elizabeth Creek hosts substantial mineral resources including approximately 800,000 tons of copper, 30,000 tons of cobalt, and 28 million ounces of silver.

The project consists of three primary deposits - two open pits (MG14 and Windabout) that will provide early production, and the larger Emmie Bluff underground deposit. With a resource grade of approximately 1.9% copper equivalent, CEO Chris Stevens believes the project compares favorably to competitors, noting that "some of the really large projects that you see kicking around in terms of contained tonnage have a lower head grade going into the mill than our waste dump."

A completed scoping study demonstrates strong economics with a pre-tax NPV of $1.2 billion ($802 million post-tax) based on a copper price of $4.20 per pound. Capital expenditure is estimated at approximately A$680 million, with annual production projected at 26,000-27,000 tons of copper and 1,300 tons of cobalt.

The company is currently focused on metallurgical optimization to reduce capital costs significantly by investigating alternatives to conventional flotation and Albion processing circuits. Stevens emphasized that these changes "have the potential to be game-changing for the project."

Elizabeth Creek benefits from excellent infrastructure, including proximity to the Stuart Highway, a 133 KVA electrical substation on the property, and access to the BHP haul road. Stevens highlighted South Australia's streamlined mining regulations and the project's ESG advantages, particularly for cobalt production, creating "a compelling alternative to DRC-sourced cobalt."

With $4.5 million in cash, Coda is taking a disciplined approach to capital deployment in the current challenging market, focusing on critical path items such as approvals and optimization studies. The project qualifies for the Australian government's 'Future Made in Australia' policy, potentially providing approximately $25 million in benefits.

Looking ahead, Stevens expressed confidence in copper market fundamentals, noting that new discoveries are increasingly rare while existing mines face declining grades and rising costs. Coda's combination of grade, scale, and jurisdiction positions it well to capitalize on the growing structural supply deficit in the copper market as global demand continues to accelerate.

View Coda Minerals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/coda-minerals-ltd

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