Solaris Resources Inc. (TSX: SLS; NYSE: SLSR)
(“Solaris” or the “Company”) is pleased to report that it has
submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) to the
Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (“MAATE”)
for the construction of the Warintza Project (“Warintza” or “the
Project”) in southeastern Ecuador.
The EIA spans over 3,000 pages and represents
the culmination of more than three and a half years of dialogue,
traditional learning, baseline environmental monitoring, data
collection and studies. It is compliant with Ecuadorean
regulations, leading international practices, and aligns with the
globally recognized Equator Principles framework and Performance
Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability promulgated by
the International Finance Corporation.
This report builds on prior permitting,
including an EIA and community consultations resulting in the
granting of an environmental license for advanced exploration in
2023 which facilitated significant site infrastructure and Project
development. To date, over US$170 million¹ has been invested in the
Project, with nearly 100% procurement through Ecuadorean supply
chains and 55% from local cantons. The Project employs over 500
people and is the only significant source of formal employment
available locally and one of the largest job creators in the
region.
The EIA was prepared by ESSAM Cía. Ltda.
(“ESSAM”), an accredited Ecuadorean environmental consulting firm
that has successfully completed several EIAs for mining projects in
Ecuador, including the Mirador copper mine 40km south of Warintza,
and a series of Environmental Compliance Audits for the Fruta del
Norte gold mine south of that. ESSAM used input and technical data
prepared by respected international firms, particularly Knight
Piésold Consulting, a recognized expert in tailings, waste, water
and closure design, and Ausenco, an expert in metallurgical studies
and process plant design.
With the successful completion of this
milestone, the Company has confirmed with its lender that the
second tranche of US$15 million will be drawn on its previously
announced Offtake Credit Facility in the coming days and remains
well-funded with available liquidity of US$84 million. The next
update on permitting is expected with the technical approval of the
EIA in H1/25.
Mr. Antonio Goncalves, Minister of
Energy and Mines, commented, “The steady progress of the
Warintza Project is positive for Ecuador. The Project is advancing
in compliance with all legal regulations and will soon generate
thousands of jobs and major economic growth in the Province of
Morona Santiago. The administration of President Daniel Noboa
supports this type of mining Project – one that has the support of
the communities in its direct area of influence and is designed to
meet high social, environmental, and technical standards.”
Mr. Sixto Cóndor, Governor of Morona
Santiago, commented, “Warintza is a project that will
bring great opportunities and impetus to the development of the
province. Like the Mirador project, which I recently visited, and
its positive impacts in Zamora-Chinchipe, Warintza will be an
engine for growth in Morona Santiago, with more generation of local
employment sources, revitalization of the economy, social benefits,
support for entrepreneurship, businesses and local suppliers. With
Warintza, we will have a better province, with greater wealth to be
distributed and better opportunities. We are ready to move
forward.”
Mr. Antonio Castillo, Mayor of Limón
Indanza, commented, “The people of Limón Indanza have
benefited and will continue to benefit significantly through the
creation of local employment and opportunities for the canton's
suppliers with the Warintza Project. The communities of Warints and
Yawi decided to sign an agreement with the Company, through the
Strategic Alliance, for the advancement of the Project and, as a
Municipality, we respect and support this decision to work
together.”
Mr. Javier Toro, Chief Operating Officer
of Solaris, commented, "The submission of the EIA and
commencement of permitting for construction is a major milestone
for the Warintza Project. We are very grateful to all our
supporters, and in particular to our host communities and the
Advisory Board of the Strategic Alliance of the Warintza Project
who have been integral to the socialization of this EIA, the Mayor
of Limón Indanza, the Governor of the Province of Morona Santiago,
and the diligent professionals at MAATE.”
Initial Emigration Steps –
Solaris is also pleased to announce initial steps towards aligning
the Company and its management with stakeholders and regulators in
Ecuador as Warintza enters the permitting stage. The Company is
transitioning its head office to Quito, Ecuador, where certain of
Solaris’ senior management team will work from. Solaris is
continuing to evaluate further steps to complete a greater
transition to Ecuador. The Company does not currently anticipate
that any such further steps will pose adverse tax consequences for
the Company or require a change of stock exchange listings.
Endnotes
- Refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the six
months ended June 30, 2024 on the Company’s website.
On behalf of the Board of Solaris
Resources Inc.
“Daniel Earle”President & CEO, Director
For Further Information
Jacqueline Wagenaar, VP Investor
RelationsDirect: 416-366-5678 Ext. 203Email:
jwagenaar@solarisresources.com
About Solaris Resources
Inc.
Solaris is advancing a portfolio of copper and
gold assets in the Americas, which includes a world class copper
resource with expansion and discovery potential at its Warintza
Project in Ecuador; a series of grass roots exploration projects
with discovery potential in Peru and Chile; and significant
leverage to increasing copper prices through its 60% interest in
the La Verde joint-venture project with a subsidiary of Teck
Resources in Mexico.
Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking
Statements
This document contains certain forward-looking
information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of
applicable securities legislation (collectively “forward-looking
statements”). The use of the words “will” and “expected” and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These statements include statements that the second
tranche of US$15 million will be drawn on its previously announced
Offtake Credit Facility in the coming days and the Company remains
well-funded with available liquidity of US$84 million, The next
update on permitting is expected with the technical approval of the
EIA in H1/25, the Company is transitioning its head office to
Quito, Ecuador, where certain of Solaris’ senior management team
will work from, Solaris is continuing to evaluate further steps to
complete a greater transition to Ecuador, the Company does not
currently anticipate that any such further steps will pose adverse
tax consequences for the Company or require a change of stock
exchange listings. Although Solaris believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are
reasonable, readers are cautioned that actual results may vary from
the forward-looking statements. The Company has based these
forward-looking statements and information on the Company’s current
expectations and assumptions about future events including
assumptions regarding the exploration and technical programs,
permitting, that further emigration steps will be taken, and steps
to emigrate to Ecuador. These statements also involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results or events to differ materially from those
anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including with
respect to the Company’s future strategic plans, and the risks,
uncertainties and other factors identified in the Solaris
Management’s Discussion and Analysis, for the year ended December
31, 2023 available at www.sedarplus.ca. Furthermore, the
forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made
as at the date of this news release and Solaris does not undertake
any obligation to publicly update or revise any of these
forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable
securities laws.
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