Episode Details

Heliostar Metals Vice President, Investor Relations and Development, Stephen Soock joined Steve Darling from Proactive to discuss the company’s evolving growth strategy and its transition from explorer to emerging mid-tier gold producer. The company is advancing a production-focused approach designed to create near-term cash flow while supporting longer-term expansion objectives. Soock explained that Heliostar’s strategy centers on maximizing existing assets and generating internally funded growth rather than relying heavily on external capital raises. By utilizing cash flow generated from production activities, the company aims to build a sustainable pathway toward becoming a larger gold producer by the end of the decade. During the interview, Soock said Heliostar is targeting annual production of approximately 300,000 ounces of gold by decade’s end through a portfolio of projects that are either already in operation or nearing production readiness. He described the company’s development approach as a “bootstrapping methodology,” allowing Heliostar to leverage smaller-scale production to create cash flow and fund future opportunities. The company’s La Colorada and San Agustin mining assets have recently returned to production following periods of care and maintenance. According to Soock, La Colorada required only a relatively modest investment of approximately US$25 million to restart operations, highlighting the company’s disciplined capital allocation strategy. San Agustin has also resumed production following permitting approvals in Mexico, further strengthening Heliostar’s operational foundation. Looking ahead, Heliostar continues advancing its Ana Paula project, which is being targeted for production in 2028. Soock noted that the company has already invested significantly in infrastructure and previous development work at the site. This existing foundation may help reduce future development costs while accelerating progress through engineering studies and project optimization efforts. Discussing the economics of current operations, Soock highlighted the strong profitability environment for gold producers. He noted that with gold prices near US$5,000 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs around US$2,000, the company sees meaningful margin potential and expects strong operating cash flow to support future growth initiatives. The company’s strategy reflects a broader focus on balancing production growth, disciplined spending, and exploration upside as it works toward building a larger and more diversified gold production platform. #proactiveinvestors #tsxv #hstr #otcqx #hstxf #mining #anapaula #lacolorada #sanagustin #gold #goldstrike #utah #PreciousMetals #MiningStocks #Exploration #ProductionGrowth #NaturalResources