Worley begins engineering work to support the FID planned for 2027 and reduce execution risks at Diablillos.
By Panorama Minero
AbraSilver Resource Corp. announced that it has issued a Limited Notice to Proceed to Worley to commence the bridging engineering phase for the Company’s 100%-owned Diablillos silver-gold project, located in the Puna region across the provinces of Salta and Catamarca.
The award follows completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) for Diablillos, which was also delivered by Worley, and initiates the workstreams required to support a final investment decision (“FID”) targeted for the second quarter of 2027.
Under the bridging phase, Worley will build on the detailed engineering, technical, environmental and economic outcomes completed through the DFS, awarded in 2025.
Working closely with AbraSilver’s Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Weyland, newly appointed Project Director John Naisbitt, and the AbraSilver team in Argentina, Worley teams in Argentina and Canada, together with its Global Integrated Delivery centre in Colombia, will help further define and de-risk the Project, providing engineering design, technical studies, procurement services, cost estimates, scheduling, permitting support and other elements required to develop an execution plan.
The scope also includes planning for a site camp to accommodate the construction and operations workforce. The team will assess modular construction options while accounting for the Project’s high-altitude location, remoteness and limited infrastructure.
Jeremy Weyland, Chief Operating Officer of AbraSilver, commented “Awarding this next phase of work to Worley following the DFS keeps Diablillos moving without interruption along the path to construction. Worley knows this project well, and their global mining expertise and proven project delivery track record make them the right partner to advance the engineering, procurement and permitting workstreams that underpin our targeted final investment decision in the second quarter of 2027.”
“We’re pleased to build on our partnership with AbraSilver and support the Project as it moves into this next phase,” said Andrea Casciano, Senior Vice President for LATAM at Worley. “This is an important transition period for Diablillos. By combining the capabilities of our multi-center team with our mining expertise and project delivery experience, we will progress the execution elements needed to support the project toward a final investment decision.”
Diablllos is one of the most significant undeveloped primary silver projects globally. Initial capital expenditures estimated at $722 million (including $98 million contingency) with subsequent sustaining capital of $520 million funded through operating cash flow. Diablillos will have an Average annual production of 20 Moz silver equivalent during the first five years of full mine production, comprised of 14 Moz Silver and 89 koz Gold.
