Interview with Paul Ténière, CEO of Lafleur Minerals Inc.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/lafleur-minerals-cselflr-from-pea-to-production-a-12-month-gold-timeline-8402

Recording date: 10th March 2026

Lafleur Minerals (CSE: LFLR) is positioning itself as a near-term gold producer in Quebec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, targeting production by the end of 2026 through its Swanson deposit and Beacon Mill. The company's recently released Preliminary Economic Assessment demonstrates robust economics with a $101 million NPV and 65% internal rate of return at a conservative $2,750 per ounce gold price, while maintaining all-in sustaining costs of $1,569 per ounce over a seven-year mine life.

The project's accelerated timeline stems from significant existing infrastructure advantages. The Beacon Mill, recently refurbished and currently being recommissioned, has a nameplate capacity of 750 tonnes per day with near-term expansion potential to 1,250 tonnes per day. The Swanson deposit sits on an existing mining lease, substantially reducing permitting timelines that typically plague greenfield projects. With initial capital requirements of approximately $30 million Canadian, the company is evaluating multiple financing pathways including offtake agreements, equity raises, and potential merger scenarios.

Lafleur currently reports just over 200,000 ounces in combined indicated and inferred categories, representing a 30% increase from previous estimates. Management targets reaching one million ounces through depth extensions beyond the historical 350-meter drilling limit and advancement of satellite deposits including Bartec and Jolin. The company's drilling programs have identified continued mineralization between 350 and 500 meters depth, consistent with typical Abitibi geology.

Beyond standalone production, Lafleur is pursuing a hub-and-spoke model with Beacon serving as a regional processing center. As major producers have shifted focus toward feeding their own mills, third-party processing capacity has tightened across the district. This creates opportunity for mid-tier processors like Lafleur to capture value through custom milling while justifying future mill expansions to 3,000-4,000 tonnes per day. The strategy positions the company as both a producer and regional infrastructure provider in one of Canada's most prolific gold districts.

View Lafleur Minerals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/lafleur-minerals