Central Asia Metals PLC (AIM: CAML) has released its operational update for the third quarter of 2026, highlighting significant production achievements at its Kounrad copper operation in Kazakhstan and the Sasa zinc-lead mine in North Macedonia. The company reported a copper production of 3,454 tonnes from Kounrad and a zinc-in-concentrate production of 4,968 tonnes alongside 7,255 tonnes of lead-in-concentrate from Sasa. Notably, the average received prices for copper and zinc saw substantial increases compared to the same period last year, with copper prices rising by 43% to $14,218 per tonne and zinc prices increasing by 34% to $3,841 per tonne.
In terms of safety, both operations achieved zero lost time injuries (LTIs) during the quarter, reflecting the company’s commitment to health and safety standards. The operational summary also noted that Kounrad’s production for the first nine months of 2026 is only slightly lower than the previous year, keeping it on track to meet its full-year guidance of 12,000 to 13,000 tonnes of copper.
The Sasa mine also demonstrated impressive performance, with an 18% increase in contained zinc production and a 21% increase in contained lead production compared to Q3 2025, attributed to improved head grades and increased mining and processing activities. The company reported that Sasa’s payable production for the quarter was 4,173 tonnes of zinc-in-concentrate and 6,893 tonnes of lead-in-concentrate.
CAML’s exploration activities have also progressed, particularly in the Chingiz-Tarbagatay belt in Kazakhstan. The maiden drilling programme at the Yuzhnoe project returned promising results, with wide copper intersections identified over more than 1 kilometre of strike length. Follow-up drilling is planned to further assess the mineralisation and target higher-grade intervals.
The company is also moving forward with its acquisition of Cygnus Metals, which is expected to enhance CAML’s project pipeline with the addition of the Chibougamau copper-gold project in Québec. Positive shareholder votes and conditional approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange have been received, with the transaction anticipated to close by late October 2026.
Looking ahead, CAML remains optimistic about meeting its full-year production guidance across both operations and is set to continue its exploration efforts, with significant drilling programmes planned for the coming quarters. The company’s proactive approach in both production and exploration underlines its strategic focus on growth and sustainability in the mining sector.
