Wesley Carson
Analyst · UBS
Thanks, Haytham. Good morning, everyone. Overall production in Q2 was 202,000 GEOs, a 6% year-over-year increase, primarily driven by the addition of BHP's Antamina stream, together with the new production from Fenix, Hemlo, Mineral Park, Platreef and Goose. In Q2, Salobo produced 62,100 ounces of attributable gold, a decrease of approximately 11% relative to Q2 2025, primarily the result of lower grades. Vale Base Metals disclosed that the coarse particle flotation is the key near-term growth driver at Salobo, supporting Salobo III's expansion from 12 million to 18 million tonnes per annum and targeted total throughput of 42 million tonnes per annum by 2029. In Q2, Antamina produced 2.3 million ounces of attributable silver, an increase of approximately 56% relative to Q2 2025. The increase was primarily driven by the newly acquired BHP Antamina PMPA, which increased the company's share of silver production at Antamina from 33.75% to 67.5% effective April 1, 2026. The benefit of the increased production share was partially offset by lower silver grades and the timing of planned maintenance as a scheduled July maintenance shutdown was advanced into June. The lower grades were attributable to pit sequencing with a greater portion of copper-only ore processed relative to copper-zinc ore, which contains more silver. An increase in copper-zinc ore is expected to be processed in the third quarter, which is expected to result in higher silver grades. In Q2, Blackwater produced 100,000 ounces of attributable silver and 5,900 ounces of attributable gold, an increase of 7% and 46%, respectively, relative to Q2 2025, primarily the result of higher recoveries, grades and throughput. On August 4, 2026, Artemis Gold provided an update on the Phase 1 expansion at Blackwater, which is anticipated to increase the plant's nameplate capacity by 33% from 6 million to 8 million tonnes per annum. Artemis reported that the Phase 1A was 57% complete at the end of Q2 2026 and remains on schedule for commissioning in Q4 2026, with the expansion expected to contribute to production beginning in 2027. Artemis also commenced major works construction on its larger EP2 growth project at Blackwater, which remains on schedule and on budget. Together, Phase 1A and EP2 are expected to expand throughput capacity by 250% from 6 million to 21 million tonnes per annum by 2028, increasing annual gold production to over 500,000 ounces. Several development projects continue to ramp up in Q2 2026, including Mineral Park, Fenix, Platreef and Goose. Construction also advanced across a number of projects, including Kurmuk, where Allied Gold reported the project remains on budget and on schedule with start of operations expected in August and first gold pour a few weeks thereafter. And Kone, where Montage Gold reported that the project remains on budget and ahead of schedule with first gold pour targeted for Q4 2026 through the oxide circuit and the hard rock comminution circuit on track for completion in Q2 2027. Production outlook for 2026 remains unchanged, and we currently expect to achieve our annual production guidance of 860,000 to 940,000 GEOs. Production is expected to be weighted to the second half of 2026, driven by mine sequencing at Salobo and Penasquito, the first full contribution from the Antamina BHP stream and the continued ramp-up of newly operating assets through 2026. Looking ahead, we project annual production to grow at an industry-leading rate of approximately 50%, reaching 1.2 million GEOs by 2030 with average annual production forecast to remain at approximately 1.2 million GEOs from 2031 through 2035. That concludes the operations overview. And with that, I'll turn the call over to Vince.