\nAris Mining Corporation (Aris Mining or the Company) (TSX: ARIS; NYSE: ARIS) has completed the preparation of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Soto Norte gold-copper project in Santander, Colombia (the Project) and will commence community engagement ahead of submission of the ESIA and environmental license application.<\/p>\n
\nCommunity meetings are scheduled to take place in Matanza, Surat\u00e1 and California in October. During this process, the Company will present the ESIA, receive community feedback and consider relevant suggestions before finalizing the ESIA for submission as part of the environmental licensing process.<\/p>\n
\nNeil Woodyer, Chair and CEO, commented: \u201cSoto Norte is one of the most attractive high-grade, long-life underground gold projects in the Americas, with copper by-products providing additional strategic value. The redesigned Soto Norte combines reduced scale and stronger economics with dedicated mill capacity for local miners.<\/p>\n
\nWith preparation of the ESIA for community engagement complete, the technical mine plan approved by the National Mining Agency (ANM), and community engagement to be launched, Soto Norte is ready to advance toward environmental licensing. Following receipt of the environmental license, we will be in a position to make a construction decision for the Project.<\/p>\n
\nIn the final months of the previous administration, several measures were introduced that restricted new mining authorizations and environmental licensing in areas relevant to Soto Norte, creating uncertainty around the Project\u2019s regulatory path. Since the change in administration, the La Baja permanent reserve has been revoked, the expiry of the Temporary Reserve Area has reverted to its original date of March 4, 2027, which is well aligned with our expected project timeline, while the Santurb\u00e1n P\u00e1ramo delimitation process will continue under applicable constitutional, legal, technical, environmental and participatory requirements.<\/p>\n
\nA central feature of Soto Norte is our partnership approach with local miners. By providing local miners with access to modern processing infrastructure and responsible tailings and water management, we believe Soto Norte can support formal employment and economic opportunities while reducing the environmental impacts associated with informal processing. This approach builds on the responsible mining model we have successfully implemented with local small-scale miners at Segovia and Marmato.\u201d<\/p>\n
Soto Norte \u2013 A Redesigned Development Strategy1<\/sup><\/b><\/p>\n ESIA Community Engagement Process To Commence<\/b><\/p>\n \nHaving completed preparation of the ESIA, Aris Mining will commence community engagement across the three municipalities in the Project\u2019s area of influence. The ESIA evaluates the Project\u2019s potential environmental and social impacts and sets out measures to prevent, mitigate, manage, and monitor those impacts as part of the environmental licensing process.<\/p>\n \nThe engagement process will follow Colombia\u2019s regulatory framework for mining environmental studies, including the public participation principles of the Escaz\u00fa Agreement, and reflects prior and ongoing engagement with local stakeholders.<\/p>\n \nFollowing the engagement process, the Company expects to incorporate relevant feedback, as appropriate, before submitting the final ESIA as part of the environmental licensing process.<\/p>\n \nAris Mining will continue to engage openly with local communities throughout the environmental licensing process and, subject to receiving the required approvals, during project development and operations.<\/p>\n Programa de Trabajos y Obras (PTO) Provides Technical Foundation<\/b><\/p>\n \nOn July 29, 2026, the ANM approved the modification to the PTO for Soto Norte in respect of mining concession 0095-68, where the deposit is located.<\/p>\n \nThe PTO is the formal technical mine plan reviewed by the ANM and sets out the basis for how the mineral deposit is proposed to be developed, including the mine design, production plan, supporting technical studies and closure considerations. In approving the plan, the ANM reviewed Soto Norte\u2019s geology, mineral resources and reserves, mine design and production plan.<\/p>\n \nThe PTO approval is separate from both the environmental licensing process and the extension of the mining concession term. Construction and mining activities contemplated by the approved PTO may not commence until the required environmental license has been obtained.<\/p>\n Community Relationships and Local Miner Partnerships<\/b><\/p>\n \nAris Mining has established constructive relationships with communities in Soto Norte\u2019s area of influence, including mayors and other municipal leaders, community representatives, and local miners. These relationships support open dialogue, inform communities about the Project and help the Company understand local priorities.<\/p>\n \nThrough this engagement, the Company has identified the environmental impacts of unregulated mineral processing as a key community concern.<\/p>\n \nThe ESIA reflects this engagement and was developed with input from local stakeholders to help identify, manage and mitigate impacts that are important to them.<\/p>\n \nAris Mining\u2019s partnership model also provides local miners with a pathway into the formal mining sector and access to industrial-scale processing, helping reduce unauthorized mining and the environmental impacts associated with unregulated processing.<\/p>\n Recent Environmental Regulatory Developments<\/b><\/p>\n \nOn March 3, 2025, Colombia\u2019s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development issued Resolution 0221, establishing a temporary reserve area over approximately 75,345 hectares in Santander (the Temporary Reserve Area) and restricting new mining authorizations and environmental licenses within the area, including areas relevant to the Soto Norte Project.<\/p>\n \nOn August 4, 2026, the Ministry issued Resolution 0970 (the Temporary Reserve Extension), modifying the Temporary Reserve Area and extending its term from March 4, 2027 to March 4, 2029.<\/p>\n \nOn August 6, 2026, the Ministry issued Resolution 0992, establishing a progressive delimitation of the Santurb\u00e1n-Berl\u00edn P\u00e1ramo jurisdiction (the 2026 P\u00e1ramo Partial Delimitation) and partially replacing the prior 2014 delimitation for the areas included in the new delimitation. The 2026 P\u00e1ramo Partial Delimitation formed part of the environmental regulatory framework applicable in the broader Soto Norte region.<\/p>\n \nAlso on August 6, 2026, the Ministry issued Resolution 0994, establishing a permanent natural resources reserve over approximately 1,499 hectares in the municipality of California, Santander (the La Baja Reserve). The La Baja Reserve imposed restrictions on new mining authorizations and environmental licenses within the reserve area, including areas relevant to the Soto Norte Project.<\/p>\n \nOn August 7, 2026, a new national administration took office in Colombia following the presidential inauguration.<\/p>\n \nOn August 13, 2026, the Ministry issued Resolution 1037, revoking the La Baja Reserve in its entirety and thereby removing the restrictions associated with that reserve.<\/p>\n \nOn September 28, 2026, the Ministry issued Resolution 1277, revoking the Temporary Reserve Extension. As a result, the Temporary Reserve Area continues under its prior terms, including its original expiry on March 4, 2027.<\/p>\n \nAlso on September 28, 2026, the Ministry issued Resolution 1278, revoking the 2026 P\u00e1ramo Partial Delimitation in its entirety. The Ministry identified procedural and legal issues with the progressive delimitation process and directed that work continue toward a new delimitation that satisfies applicable constitutional, legal, technical, environmental and participatory requirements. Accordingly, the existing P\u00e1ramo protection framework remains in effect. The Soto Norte Project is located outside the Santurb\u00e1n P\u00e1ramo and its buffer zone.<\/p>\n Technical Disclosure<\/b><\/p>\n \nTable 1 – Soto Norte Project mineral reserves effective August 18, 20252<\/sup><\/p>\n\n
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