This article is disseminated on behalf of Nicola Mining Inc. (NASDAQ: NICM | TSXV: NIM | FSE: HLIA), LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR | OTCQB: LFLRF | FSE: 3WK0), Rua Gold Inc. (TSX: RUA | NZX: RGI | OTC: NZAUF | FSE: X9R), Contango Silver and Gold Inc. (NYSE American: CTGO | TSX: CTGO), and CG Wealth Management.
At a Glance
- Gold reached record highs earlier this year, while silver continues to benefit from industrial demand and ongoing supply deficits.
- Panelists emphasized that disciplined project execution remains the primary driver of long-term value.
- The discussion covered financing, project development, capital allocation, and the potential for increased M&A activity.
- Strong assets, supportive jurisdictions, experienced management teams, and upcoming project milestones remain key differentiators.
Gold rose to record highs earlier this year, while silver benefits from growing industrial demand and ongoing supply deficits. Against this backdrop, InvestorTV hosted a panel discussion titled “Gold & Silver Opportunities: Discovery, Development & Growth,” featuring mining executives and market experts who discussed the opportunities shaping today’s precious metals market.
The Panel
The webinar explored commodity fundamentals, financing, project development, mergers and acquisitions, and what investors should watch over the coming year in the precious metals market and among select companies.
The following panelists shared their insights:
- Peter Espig, President, CEO, and Director, Nicola Mining Inc. (NASDAQ: NICM | TSXV: NIM | FSE: HLIA)
- Kal Malhi, Chairman, LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR | OTCQB: LFLRF | FSE: 3WK0)
- Robert Eckford, CEO, Rua Gold Inc. (TSX: RUA | NZX: RGI | OTC: NZAUF | FSE: X9R)
- Shawn Khunkhun, President and Director, Contango Silver and Gold Inc. (NYSE American: CTGO | TSX: CTGO)
- Chris Kerlow, Senior Portfolio Manager, CG Wealth Management
Gold Prices May Fluctuate, But Discipline Remains Key
Although gold has pulled back from its record highs, the panelists agreed that today’s pricing environment remains historically strong.
Peter explained that Nicola Mining continues to focus on operational discipline regardless of where gold trades.
“We focus on being profitable at a $2,000 gold price, and everything above that is gravy. That’s the way we run our operations.”
Rather than building a business around elevated commodity prices, he emphasized maintaining a margin of safety that allows the company to benefit from stronger markets while remaining resilient during periods of volatility.
Silver’s Dual Demand Story Continues to Evolve
While gold often dominates headlines, much of the discussion focused on silver’s unique position as both a precious and industrial metal.
Shawn pointed to growing demand from sectors such as solar energy, electric vehicles, and data centres alongside continued investor demand.
“The difference this time is the monetary buyer is competing with the industrial buyer at a time where we’re producing less silver than we were a few years ago.”
With several consecutive years of supply deficits, the panel suggested these structural factors continue to strengthen silver’s long-term investment case.
Project Execution Remains the Primary Driver of Value
Beyond the macro environment, executives highlighted the importance of advancing projects through development milestones.
Robert discussed New Zealand’s fast-track permitting process and its potential to accelerate project development.
“Jurisdiction is one of the most important things… New Zealand’s big differentiator right now is that they’re permitting mines in six months.”
Meanwhile, Kal provided updates on LaFleur Minerals’ Swanson Gold Deposit and Beacon Gold Mill, while Peter discussed planned production at the Dominion Gold Project and progress across Nicola Mining’s broader portfolio. Shawn also outlined Contango Silver & Gold’s strategy of combining cash-flow generation with long-term development following its merger with Dolly Varden.
M&A and Capital Allocation
As profitability improves across the sector, panelists also explored whether mergers and acquisitions could accelerate.
Chris believes consolidation is still in its early stages.
“The M&A part is still in the early innings. You’ll start to see a lot of that activity pick back up, particularly during a bit of stabilization in commodity prices.”
The discussion also touched on financing strategies, with executives noting that companies capable of generating cash flow have greater flexibility to fund exploration, development, and future acquisitions.
What Investors Should Focus On
When asked how he evaluates junior mining companies, Chris emphasized that successful investing requires looking beyond commodity prices alone. Throughout the webinar, the panel consistently pointed to three characteristics that help distinguish quality opportunities: strong assets, supportive jurisdictions, and experienced management teams capable of executing their business plans.
Looking Ahead
The discussion concluded with each company outlining upcoming catalysts, including permitting decisions, drilling programs, production milestones, resource updates, and continued exploration.
While the panelists viewed the outlook for gold and silver as supported by favorable macroeconomic conditions, they agreed that long-term shareholder value will ultimately depend on disciplined execution and advancing quality projects through each stage of development.