BacTech Environmental Corporation CEO Ross Orr joined Steve Darling from Proactive’s OTC studio in New York City to discuss the company’s innovative approach to sustainable metal extraction.

Orr explained that BacTech uses bioleaching, a process where bacteria extract metals from ores, as a cleaner alternative to traditional smelting and roasting methods. “Our bugs eat rocks,” he said, highlighting the company’s ability to extract metals such as gold, silver, copper, and cobalt from complex ores while minimizing environmental impact.

A major initiative is the construction of a processing plant in southwestern Ecuador, where over 100 small-scale mines produce arsenopyrite concentrates with high arsenic levels. BacTech aims to process the ore locally, improve terms for miners, and create meaningful employment, with 50–60 initial hires earning significantly more than local agricultural work.

The company is transitioning from contract processing to building, owning, and operating its own plants, with Phase Two in Ecuador and potential expansion into Peru expected to increase output to 125,000 ounces of gold and 250,000 ounces of silver annually.

Orr also highlighted a recent patent filing for a zero-waste tailings treatment, which produces usable byproducts such as magnetite and organic fertilizer, further advancing BacTech’s commitment to environmentally responsible mining.

Courtesy of Bactech Environmental via ProActive Investor