Advancing Underground Preparations at La Parrilla Silver Mine in Mexico
Silver Storm Mining Ltd. has moved decisively to position its La Parrilla Silver Mine Complex in Durango State, Mexico, for a potential return to underground production.
The Company has now placed orders for all critical equipment required to support underground activities, covering new mobile mining equipment, development and production drilling capacity, and a comprehensive upgrade to mine ventilation systems. Together, these investments mark a pivotal phase in preparations for a possible restart as early as the second quarter of 2026.
For a brownfield asset such as La Parrilla, which already benefits from established underground workings and a 2,000 tonnes per day processing plant, the emphasis is less about building from scratch and more about restoring reliability, safety, and operational efficiency. By committing capital early to long lead time equipment, Silver Storm is signalling both operational discipline and confidence in the asset’s longer term potential.
Underground Equipment Orders Set the Pace
At the heart of the programme is the acquisition of a new underground mining fleet tailored to low profile Mexican underground conditions. A total of ten new units have been ordered, comprising haulage trucks, scooptrams, and a mix of development and long hole production drills. Delivery is scheduled to begin in January 2026, with sequential arrivals through the first quarter of the year.
This approach allows the Company to phase commissioning, training, and early development work rather than waiting for a single delivery window. It also reduces the operational risk typically associated with restarts, where delays in one equipment stream can ripple across the entire mine plan.
The selected equipment supplier is Jiangxi Siton Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a China based manufacturer whose trucks, loaders, and drills are already operating in comparable underground mines across Mexico. These machines have developed a reputation locally for solid utilisation rates and acceptable performance in narrow vein and low height environments, where manoeuvrability and reliability matter more than headline capacity figures.
Aligning Equipment Choices with Mexican Mining Conditions
The decision to source from a supplier with an existing Mexican footprint is not incidental. Underground mines in Durango and neighbouring states often face a blend of geological complexity, variable orebody geometry, and infrastructure inherited from previous operators. Equipment that has already proven itself in similar conditions carries lower technical risk than untested alternatives.
Silver Storm’s order includes:
- Low profile underground haulage trucks designed for restricted headings
- Scooptrams optimised for short haul cycles and efficient mucking
- Development jumbos to support lateral and vertical access
- Long hole production drills to enable efficient stoping once mining ramps up
Together, this fleet provides flexibility across early development, trial stoping, and potential steady state production scenarios.
Breathing New Life into the Existing Fleet
Alongside the new equipment orders, Silver Storm has opted to rehabilitate part of the existing underground fleet already on site at La Parrilla. One low profile haulage truck and four scooptrams have been sent away for maintenance and refurbishment, with completion expected during the first quarter of 2026.
This blended strategy of new purchases and refurbishment is typical of cost conscious restart plans. Refurbished units can often be returned to service at a fraction of the cost of new machines, while still meeting safety and performance requirements when properly overhauled. It also provides redundancy during ramp up, ensuring that early underground activities are not overly exposed to single points of failure.
Importantly, these refurbished machines will be reintroduced sequentially from January 2026, broadly in step with the arrival of new equipment. That timing allows the Company to build operational capacity progressively, rather than absorbing the logistical and training burden all at once.
Ventilation Takes Centre Stage
If mobile equipment provides the muscle of an underground mine, ventilation is its lungs. Recognising this, Silver Storm has placed significant emphasis on upgrading ventilation infrastructure at La Parrilla, ordering two large surface based fans and a suite of underground auxiliary units.
The two primary fans are industrial grade units supplied by Howden. One 600 horsepower fan will serve as the principal exhaust ventilation system for the Rosarios Mine, while a second 250 horsepower unit will improve airflow in the western mining areas of the La Parrilla complex. Both fans are engineered for high efficiency airflow and durability in demanding underground environments.
In addition to these surface installations, the Company has ordered fifteen smaller auxiliary fans to support airflow distribution underground. These units play a critical role in directing fresh air to active headings, controlling heat and diesel particulate levels, and maintaining regulatory compliance as mining activity expands.
Safety, Compliance, and Operational Confidence
Ventilation upgrades are rarely headline grabbing, but they are fundamental to safe underground mining. Adequate airflow directly influences worker health, equipment availability, and the pace at which development and production can proceed. In many jurisdictions, ventilation constraints are one of the most common bottlenecks during restarts.
Silver Storm’s focus on ventilation aligns closely with its broader operational philosophy. As President and Chief Executive Officer Greg McKenzie noted: “Placing orders for new underground mining equipment and upgrading our ventilation systems at La Parrilla demonstrates Silver Storm’s commitment to safety, efficiency, and long-term value creation.”
He added: “These investments are essential steps as we advance toward the potential restart of operations as early as the second quarter of 2026 and unlocking the full potential of La Parrilla.”
These statements underscore that the restart strategy is not simply about turning equipment back on, but about rebuilding a mine capable of operating safely and predictably over the long term.
A Brownfield Asset with Modern Intentions
La Parrilla is no greenfield experiment. The complex includes three underground mines feeding a 2,000 tonnes per day processing facility, giving it scale and infrastructure that many junior developers can only aspire to. However, brownfield operations carry their own challenges, particularly when it comes to legacy systems, ageing equipment, and changing regulatory expectations.
By investing upfront in modern mobile equipment and ventilation, Silver Storm is effectively resetting the operational baseline. This approach reduces the likelihood of costly retrofits later and improves the mine’s attractiveness to stakeholders ranging from employees and regulators to potential strategic partners.
Positioning for a Near Term Restart
Timing is a critical variable in mining markets, particularly for silver assets where price volatility can rapidly reshape project economics. By targeting a potential restart window in the second quarter of 2026, Silver Storm is aligning equipment deliveries, refurbishment schedules, and underground readiness into a coherent timeline.
The staggered arrival of new machines, combined with the phased return of rehabilitated units, allows for:
- Early underground access and re establishment of headings
- Progressive commissioning and operator training
- Ventilation balancing and airflow optimisation
- Incremental production trials before full ramp up
This measured approach reduces execution risk and provides management with multiple decision points as market conditions evolve.
Beyond La Parrilla
While La Parrilla is the immediate focus, it sits within a broader portfolio of advanced stage silver assets in Durango. The Company also holds a 100 percent interest in the San Diego Project, recognised as one of the largest undeveloped silver assets in Mexico.
Progress at La Parrilla has implications beyond a single mine restart. Successfully returning the complex to operation would strengthen Silver Storm’s operational credibility and could provide valuable cash flow, technical experience, and optionality as the Company evaluates development pathways across its asset base.
Aspiration and Achievement
Mining restarts are rarely glamorous, but they reward discipline, realism, and attention to fundamentals. Silver Storm’s equipment orders and ventilation upgrades reflect a pragmatic understanding of what it takes to bring an underground operation back to life. By prioritising safety systems, proven equipment, and phased execution, the Company is laying groundwork that extends well beyond a single production milestone.
In an industry where delays and cost overruns are common, early action on critical path items can make the difference between aspiration and achievement. At La Parrilla, that action is now firmly underway.
