We are joined by Mani Alkhafaji, President & Chief Corporate Development Officer of First Majestic Silver Corp., for an update on the company's operations, its ongoing tax dispute in Mexico, the planned restart of Jerritt Canyon and the outlook for the silver market. Mani discusses First Majestic's performance through the first nine months of 2026, including expansion programs at Santa Elena and Los Gatos. While gold production was tracking in line with the midpoint of annual guidance, silver production was slightly behind pace, partly due to an ongoing labour dispute at San Dimas. Mani explains the company's response and why management had not revised its annual production guidance at the time of the interview. A major focus of the conversation is the potential resolution of First Majestic's long-running Mexican tax dispute. Following settlement discussions with Mexican authorities, the company has temporarily suspended its NAFTA arbitration proceedings to focus on reaching an agreement. Mani discusses the progress made, the improving relationship with the Mexican government and approximately US$150–160 million in restricted cash that could be affected by the terms of a final settlement. We also discuss the changing regulatory environment in Mexico, including improvements in mining permitting. Mani explains how recently granted permits at Santa Elena could accelerate the development of two discoveries by approximately 12 to 18 months compared with the company's previous expectations. At Jerritt Canyon in Nevada, First Majestic continues preparing for a potential restart targeted for the second half of 2027. Mani provides an update on recruitment, the acquisition of a new underground mining fleet, mill modernization and the company's decision to transition toward self-performed mining. He also discusses the technical study scheduled for completion in Q4 2026, with publication currently planned for Q1 2027. The conversation then turns to capital allocation and growth opportunities. With a substantial cash position, First Majestic is prioritizing the Mexican tax resolution and Jerritt Canyon restart before reassessing its broader capital allocation strategy. Mani discusses the company's focus on silver, its approach to acquisitions and the importance of permitting, operational readiness and exploration potential when evaluating opportunities. Finally, Mani shares his perspective on the silver market, including supply-demand fundamentals, industrial consumption, the recent stabilization in silver prices and what the company is seeing through its operating mines and minting business. We close with the catalysts investors can watch over the coming months, including additional exploration updates, progress at Jerritt Canyon, developments in the Mexican tax negotiations and First Majestic's upcoming financial results.
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