LaFleur Minerals Secures C$30 Million Financing and Offtake Agreement with Trafigura for Québec Gold Project Development

LaFleur Minerals Inc. announced it has selected Trafigura Canada Limited to arrange and provide a prepayment financing facility of up to C$30 million along with a gold doré offtake agreement to support development of the Swanson Gold Deposit and operations at the Beacon Gold Mill in Québec, subject to definitive agreements and due diligence. This financing arrangement represents a significant milestone for the company's district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d'Or, Québec, where LaFleur has consolidated a large land package along a major structural break that hosts multiple gold deposits.

The proposed facility, which includes no commodity hedging requirements and an initial tranche of up to C$15 million, is expected to fund ramp-up toward 1,250 tonnes per day processing capacity while providing a pathway for future expansion to 3,000–4,000 tpd, as the company advances toward a targeted first gold pour in the second quarter of 2026. This financing structure allows LaFleur to avoid the constraints of traditional hedging arrangements while securing essential capital for project development. The company's recently refurbished Beacon Gold Mill is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for processing mineralized material from Swanson and for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects.

The Swanson Gold Project encompasses approximately 19,214 hectares (192 km) and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. The project's accessibility by road allows direct access to several nearby gold mills, further enhancing its development potential. LaFleur recently released the results of a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Company's Swanson Gold Project and the planned restart of the Beacon Gold Mill, which demonstrated the economic viability of these assets. The partnership with Trafigura, a global leader in commodity trading, provides not only essential financing but also market access for the gold production through the offtake agreement.

This development matters because it represents a critical step in bringing a significant gold project into production in one of Canada's most established mining regions. The financing arrangement with Trafigura validates the economic potential of the Swanson Gold Project while providing the capital necessary to advance development without imposing restrictive hedging requirements that could limit upside potential. For the broader mining sector, this agreement demonstrates how strategic partnerships between junior mining companies and major trading firms can facilitate project development in challenging financing environments. The implications extend beyond LaFleur's immediate operations, potentially serving as a model for other junior miners seeking to advance projects in established mining jurisdictions while maintaining flexibility in their financial arrangements.

The company's progress can be tracked through its newsroom at http://ibn.fm/LFLRF, which provides updates on developments relating to the project. The full details of the arrangement with Trafigura are available in the company's official announcement at https://ibn.fm/hiCsw, though definitive agreements remain subject to completion. This financing and offtake arrangement positions LaFleur to advance toward production while maintaining strategic flexibility in a volatile gold market environment, potentially creating long-term value through systematic development of its consolidated land position in the Abitibi Gold Belt.