Underlying earnings before tax were A$57.5 million and the company’s operating cash flow was $30.2 million, leading to a net profit after tax of $41.7 million.

Last year a $22.3 million was reported for the same period.

The income led to debt being reduced by a US$16.9 million to $74.5 million, with the balance of the debt due for repayment by May 2019.

The company originally borrowed $162 million to develop Wetar.

Managing director Barry Cahill said the first six months of the year had confirmed Finders as a significant copper producer amongst its ASX-listed copper peers with “robust financial and production metrics”.

At the Wetar copper project (74.1%) the company produced 12,929 tonnes of copper cathode and sold 14,572t for the period, ending the period with inventory of 1729t, worth around US$10 million.

All-in sustaining costs were US$1.33 per pound.

In terms of mine life extension beyond Wetar’s seven year mine life, Cahill said drilling was underway. 

The project comprises the high-grade Kali Kuning and Lerokis sulphide deposits on Wetar Island, where the company operates both a 25,000tpa copper cathode solvent extraction-electrowinning plant, commissioned in May 2016, and a smaller 3000tpa SX-EW plant – with the latter a first stage development.

The larger plant is operating above nameplate capacity as a result of ongoing optimisation work, and has sustained an annualised rate 27,000tpa over the first half of the year.

Finders said it was also able to deliver positive ore reconciliations 4% higher than expected as mining focused on the northern part of the Kali Kuning open pit.

Copper grade should continue to improve as mining advances into the massive sulphide portion of the orebody.

The company has cash on hand of A$4.4 million.

Finder shares last traded at 22.5c on September 14 – with the miner suspended while it finalised its June half accounts – capitalising it about $174 million.

Trading is expected to resume Thursday.