Centaurus Metals Secures Debt Financing for Jaguar Nickel Project in Brazil

Centaurus Metals is nearing a final investment decision for its Jaguar nickel project in Brazil. The company has secured debt financing offers covering 84% of the development's required capital expenditure. This progress moves the company toward initiating construction at the site, which received its primary mining license in October 2024.

According to an Investing.com transcript, the company has received debt financing offers totaling up to AUD 320 million. The total project capital expenditure is estimated at approximately AUD 380 million.

"We have secured debt offers covering 84% of the capital expenditure, which is a significant step toward our final investment decision," the company noted in its recent presentation at the Resources Rising Stars conference.

Project Economics and Production Targets

The Jaguar project is designed to produce roughly 22,000 tonnes of nickel in concentrate annually. Centaurus Metals estimates the all-in sustaining costs for the operation at $4.40 per pound. This figure serves as a metric for assessing the project's viability against global nickel price volatility.

To manage the project's commercial profile, Centaurus has finalized an offtake agreement with Glencore. This deal accounts for one-third of the total concentrate output from the Jaguar site, providing a buyer for a portion of the mine's production once operations commence.

Engineering and Regulatory Status

The project has moved through several development phases. The company confirmed that basic engineering for the facility is complete. The project team is now focused on detailed design work to transition the site from the planning phase to active construction.

With the mining license in hand, the company must finalize the remaining 16% of the project's capital requirements and reach a formal final investment decision. The progression of the Jaguar project aims to bring a new source of nickel to market to meet the demand for battery-grade materials used in electric vehicle manufacturing.