Interview with Andrew Thomson, President & CEO of Palamina Corp.
Recording date: 20th December 2024
Palamina Corp (TSXV:PA), a Canadian junior mining company, is focused on making significant gold discoveries in Peru's under-explored Puno Orogenic Belt. The company has recently completed a 2,300m drill program at its flagship Usicayos project, where it encountered high-grade gold intercepts of up to 24 g/t.
Led by President Andrew Thompson, an entrepreneurial geologist who has successfully sold eight companies including Soltoro Ltd. to Agnico Eagle, Palamina benefits from a highly experienced management team. The company has strategically assembled a large land package comprising seven gold and copper-silver exploration projects in the Puno Belt, an area attracting increasing interest from major mining companies.
The company's recent progress includes constructing a new access road to the Usicayos project, which is expected to help reduce drilling costs to $300/m compared to the $600/m average in Nevada. This cost advantage positions Palamina to accelerate its resource definition efforts when drilling resumes in 2025.
Beyond its gold assets, Palamina is developing a significant copper-silver portfolio. The company plans to spin these assets into a separate subsidiary to maximize shareholder value. A key asset in this portfolio is the Pluma project, acquired from Aurania Resources in September 2024, which lies along trend from copper-silver deposits being explored by Hannan Metals.
The company also holds strategic land positions in the Santa Lucia district, near Aftermath Silver's Berenguela copper-silver project. This district has attracted significant investment from major mining companies and could provide additional value through discovery or strategic partnerships.
Palamina's investment case is strengthened by its tight share structure and the backing of prominent resource investor Eric Sprott, who owns 12.3% of the company. With a market capitalization below C$11 million, the company appears undervalued relative to its asset portfolio and upcoming catalysts.
Near-term catalysts include ongoing drill results from both the Usicayos project and its 15.4%-owned Gaban project being advanced by Winshear Gold. The company is also positioned to benefit from potential copper-silver discoveries by other companies in the district.
Operating in Peru, Palamina benefits from the country's supportive stance toward mining and recently streamlined permitting processes. With no national elections until 2026, the company enjoys a stable operating environment to advance its projects. Despite the current challenging market for junior miners, Palamina's strategic position in an emerging mineral belt, combined with its experienced management and strong financial backing, presents an interesting opportunity for investors seeking exposure to both precious and base metals.