Idaho Copper Corp. (NYSE American: COPR) has released an updated preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for its wholly owned CuMo copper-molybdenum-silver project in Boise County, Idaho, outlining significantly improved project economics that could reshape the company's development trajectory. According to the study, the project now carries an after-tax net present value (NPV) of $1.88 billion at an 8% discount rate, an after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 18.5%, and a payback period of 5.9 years. The mine is expected to operate for 46 years, with initial capital costs of $1.17 billion and an additional $658 million in expansion capital planned for year five.
The updated PEA incorporates several key optimizations, including a smaller initial processing plant, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) sensor-based ore sorting, and a revised mine plan designed to access higher-grade material earlier. These changes reduce upfront capital requirements and accelerate payback, making the project more attractive to investors. Average annual production over the first 21 years is projected at 41.6 million pounds of copper, 30.5 million pounds of molybdenum, and 1.36 million ounces of silver. At spot metal prices as of October 12, 2026, the study estimates an after-tax NPV of $6.24 billion, an IRR of 38.4%, and a payback period of 3.4 years, highlighting the project's leverage to favorable market conditions.
The significance of this announcement lies in its potential to position Idaho Copper as a major domestic supplier of critical minerals. The CuMo project is one of the largest undeveloped copper deposits in the United States and is believed to be among the largest undeveloped molybdenum deposits globally. It also contains significant amounts of silver, rhenium, and tungsten—all considered critical or strategically important. As the U.S. seeks to reduce reliance on foreign sources of these minerals, the CuMo project could play a vital role in strengthening national supply chains. For more details on the company, visit www.idaho-copper.com.
Idaho Copper plans to advance pilot-scale testing to validate its ore-sorting assumptions and conduct the bulk of its prefeasibility study work in 2027, targeting completion in 2028. This next phase will be critical in confirming the technical and economic viability of the project. Investors can access the full press release at https://ibn.fm/cVHue.
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