- Nicola Mining is transitioning from an exploration-heavy company into a true operator with real cash flow.
- The company’s Merritt Mill and tailings facility is a fully permitted and strategically located processing plant in British Columbia.
- Beyond milling, Nicola’s exploration portfolio adds depth to its growth trajectory.
Amid rising demand for gold, silver and copper, one company in British Columbia is carving out a unique position by combining cash-generating operations with long-term growth potential. During a recent Ellis Martin Report and Money Talk Radio episode (https://ibn.fm/hyMd7), Nicola Mining CEO Peter Espig explained how the company’s fully permitted Merritt Mill and unique business model distinguish it from many junior mining peers. Instead of being locked in an endless cycle of drilling and fundraising, Espig noted, Nicola Mining (TSX.V: NIM) (OTCQB: HUSIF) is already producing and processing, earning revenue and advancing a portfolio of precious metals assets, laying the groundwork for near-term profitability and long-term expansion. This gives investors a rare opportunity to participate in a junior company already generating tangible results.
During the interview, Espig explained how Nicola Mining is transitioning from an exploration-heavy identity into a true operator with real cash flow. “We’re a junior company that gives investors all the upside of exploration plays in these great exploration regions that is hedged by cash flow on the downside,” he said. “And it’s a great hedge because our operations bring in the cash flow that kind of mitigates having to continually dilute shareholders and raising money to keep the lights on. So, we’ve got very strong cash flow as a base, and we have the blue-sky upside of exploration.”
Central to this transformation is Nicola’s Merritt mill and tailings facility, a fully permitted and strategically located processing plant in British Columbia. Espig emphasized that the mill’s permit is unusually broad, giving the company the right to accept and process gold and silver mill feed from anywhere in British Columbia. That flexibility turns Nicola into a hub for smaller high-grade projects lacking processing infrastructure.
“We’re like the de facto small project site in the province when it comes to the 200-ton-a-day mill,” he said. “We’re looking towards a permanent amendment to double our capacity. . . . As of today, we’re near full capacity with Blue Lagoon.”
Espig also discussed the operational upgrades that have strengthened the mill’s efficiency. Investments in automation and processing circuits have boosted flotation recovery and optimized free gold capture, ensuring higher yields from both internal and third-party feed. These improvements are already translating into steady gold and silver concentrate production, giving Nicola an operating base that many juniors envy. This approach reflects the company’s philosophy of staying lean, adaptive and focused on capital efficiency.
Beyond milling, Nicola’s exploration portfolio adds depth to its growth trajectory. The company owns the New Craigmont Copper project, which builds on the legacy of one of Canada’s highest-grade historical copper producers. Nicola also controls the Treasure Mountain Silver project and the Dominion Creek project. Espig noted that these assets are not speculative add-ons but strategically positioned opportunities that can be developed alongside ongoing milling operations.
The interview also touched on how Nicola intends to balance growth with financial prudence. With the mill already generating revenue, Espig explained that the company is less reliant on dilutive financings than peers. “By the end of 2025, we’re expecting to have revenues of somewhere between $25–$50 million,” he observed. “That jumps to over $100 million next year . . . because by 2026 everybody will be in full production.”
Stakeholder alignment is another pillar of Nicola’s approach. The company is creating opportunities for local communities while offering investors exposure to multiple commodities in one platform. Espig explained that the company has impressive potential in not just the gold space but also the silver and copper sectors. “There are very few copper assets in the world that are exploration phase,” he said. “The Craigmont copper mine that we own is the highest-grade copper mine in the history of North America. . . .
“We’re doing exploration, but it already has a mine permit associated with it, so it’s already a mine,” Espig continued. “So if you think of the 12 to 15 years that it takes to get a mine into production, we kind of mitigate that speed in the fact that we already have mine permits . . . so now it’s more a proof of concept.”
Nicola Mining is positioning itself as a unique blend of producer, processor and explorer — something rarely seen in the junior mining space. With the Merritt mill as a revenue-generating anchor, as well as a pipeline of projects offering upside in gold, silver and copper, Nicola is seeking to build long-term, sustainable value. In an industry where fewer than one in 1,000 exploration projects ever become an operating mine, Nicola’s fully permitted and operating platform sets it apart.
For investors, the takeaways from Espig’s interview are clear: Nicola Mining offers exposure to the strength of precious metals while mitigating many of the risks common to early-stage juniors. By generating cash flow today, securing strong permits, and building a portfolio of growth projects, the company provides a rare, de-risked pathway to growth.
For more information, visit www.NicolaMining.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to HUSIF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/HUSIF
