Strong prices this year for tungsten and molybdenum have improved the economics of Thor Mining’s (ASX:THR,LON:THR) Molyhil project in Australia, said broker VSA.

Thor is currently upgrading its reserves on the back of recently completed optimisation studies, while it also has gold prospects at Spring Hill and Dundas, also in Australia.

The recent optimisation work cut operating expenses at Molyhil by 13%, while a revised feasibility study should increase the reserves to support a six year life, assuming run-of-mine production of 400,000tpa.

VSA added that tungsten prices are well supported at current levels, given the tightness of supply now that China has curbed its presence in international tungsten market. This year so far, molybdenum prices have risen by 35%.

Thor recently acquired the Pilot Mountain tungsten project in western Nevada with a compliant resource of 6.8Mt grading 0.31% WO3 (tungsten) and last week raised £0.6mln gross to finalise an upgraded DFS for Molyhil.

Including these, the house broker estimates an indicative equity value for the company of £25.3mln, equivalent to 0.91p/share. “Speculative buy” is its rating.

• [Editor:Mango]