Can Aris Mining’s New Eco-Friendly Soto Norte Design Overcome Colombian Environmental Hurdles?
March 5, 2025
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Aris Mining (TSX: ARIS, NYSE-A: ARMN) reports that the Colombian Ministry of Environment has finalized its public consultation process regarding a Temporary Reserve Area (TRA) in the Santurbán region, where the Soto Norte Project is located. The resolution, effective March 4th, enables a two-year environmental license suspension for water resource evaluation.
The company confirms this resolution does not impact their Segovia Operations, Marmato Mine, or Lower Mine Project, which are already licensed and outside the study area. Aris Mining continues developing a smaller-scale version of the Soto Norte Project, expected to complete by mid-2025. The redesigned project features reduced mining operations, minimized environmental impact, and includes processing options for local small-scale miners.
Aris Mining (TSX: ARIS, NYSE-A: ARMN) comunica che il Ministero dell’Ambiente colombiano ha concluso il suo processo di consultazione pubblica riguardante un’Area di Riserva Temporanea (TRA) nella regione di Santurbán, dove si trova il Progetto Soto Norte. La risoluzione, in vigore dal 4 marzo, consente una sospensione della licenza ambientale di due anni per la valutazione delle risorse idriche.
L’azienda conferma che questa risoluzione non influisce sulle loro Operazioni di Segovia, Mina Marmato o Progetto Lower Mine, che sono già autorizzati e al di fuori dell’area di studio. Aris Mining continua a sviluppare una versione in scala ridotta del Progetto Soto Norte, prevista per il completamento entro la metà del 2025. Il progetto riprogettato prevede operazioni minerarie ridotte, un impatto ambientale minimizzato e opzioni di lavorazione per i piccoli minatori locali.
Aris Mining (TSX: ARIS, NYSE-A: ARMN) informa que el Ministerio de Ambiente colombiano ha finalizado su proceso de consulta pública sobre un Área de Reserva Temporal (TRA) en la región de Santurbán, donde se ubica el Proyecto Soto Norte. La resolución, que entra en vigor el 4 de marzo, permite una suspensión de la licencia ambiental por dos años para la evaluación de recursos hídricos.
La compañía confirma que esta resolución no afecta sus Operaciones de Segovia, Mina Marmato o Proyecto Lower Mine, que ya están licenciadas y fuera del área de estudio. Aris Mining sigue desarrollando una versión a menor escala del Proyecto Soto Norte, que se espera completar a mediados de 2025. El proyecto rediseñado presenta operaciones mineras reducidas, un impacto ambiental minimizado e incluye opciones de procesamiento para los pequeños mineros locales.
Aris Mining (TSX: ARIS, NYSE-A: ARMN)는 콜롬비아 환경부가 산투르반 지역에 있는 임시 보호 구역(TRA)에 대한 공공 상담 프로세스를 완료했다고 보고했습니다. 이 결의안은 3월 4일부터 시행되며 수자원 평가를 위한 2년간의 환경 라이센스 중단을 허용합니다.
회사는 이 결의안이 이미 허가된 세고비아 운영, 마르마토 광산 또는 로워 마인 프로젝트에 영향을 미치지 않는다고 확인했습니다. 아리스 마이닝은 2025년 중반까지 완료될 것으로 예상되는 소규모 버전의 Soto Norte 프로젝트를 계속 개발하고 있습니다. 재설계된 프로젝트는 광업 작업을 줄이고 환경 영향을 최소화하며, 지역 소규모 광부를 위한 가공 옵션을 포함하고 있습니다.
Aris Mining (TSX: ARIS, NYSE-A: ARMN) annonce que le ministère colombien de l’Environnement a finalisé son processus de consultation publique concernant une Zone de Réserve Temporaire (TRA) dans la région de Santurbán, où se trouve le Projet Soto Norte. La résolution, en vigueur à partir du 4 mars, permet une suspension de la licence environnementale de deux ans pour l’évaluation des ressources en eau.
L’entreprise confirme que cette résolution n’affecte pas ses Opérations de Segovia, Mine de Marmato ou Projet Lower Mine, qui sont déjà licenciées et en dehors de la zone d’étude. Aris Mining continue de développer une version à plus petite échelle du Projet Soto Norte, qui devrait être achevée d’ici la mi-2025. Le projet redessiné présente des opérations minières réduites, un impact environnemental minimisé et inclut des options de traitement pour les petits mineurs locaux.
Aris Mining (TSX: ARIS, NYSE-A: ARMN) berichtet, dass das kolumbianische Umweltministerium seinen öffentlichen Konsultationsprozess bezüglich eines Temporären Schutzgebiets (TRA) in der Region Santurbán, wo sich das Soto Norte Projekt befindet, abgeschlossen hat. Die Resolution, die am 4. März in Kraft tritt, ermöglicht eine zweijährige Aussetzung der Umweltgenehmigung zur Bewertung der Wasserressourcen.
Das Unternehmen bestätigt, dass diese Resolution keine Auswirkungen auf ihre Segovia-Betriebe, die Marmato-Mine oder das Lower Mine-Projekt hat, die bereits lizenziert sind und außerhalb des Studiengebiets liegen. Aris Mining entwickelt weiterhin eine kleinere Version des Soto Norte Projekts, das voraussichtlich bis Mitte 2025 abgeschlossen sein wird. Das neu gestaltete Projekt umfasst reduzierte Bergbauaktivitäten, minimierte Umweltauswirkungen und beinhaltet Verarbeitungslösungen für lokale Kleinbergbauunternehmen.
Positive
- Existing operations (Segovia, Marmato, Lower Mine) unaffected by resolution
- Proactive redesign of Soto Norte Project with reduced environmental impact
- Integration of local small-scale miners into operations plan
Negative
- Two-year suspension of environmental licensing in Soto Norte Project area
- Project development delayed several years
- Uncertainty around final environmental approval
Insights
The Colombian Ministry of Environment’s resolution establishing a Temporary Reserve Area in the Santurbán region represents a regulatory hurdle for Aris Mining’s Soto Norte Project. While this two-year suspension of environmental licensing in the area introduces uncertainty, several factors moderate its immediate financial impact:
First, the resolution doesn’t affect Aris Mining’s revenue-generating assets – the Segovia Operations, Marmato Mine, and Lower Mine Project remain fully operational. These active mines constitute the company’s current production and cash flow.
Second, the timing is relatively convenient since Soto Norte was already positioned as a longer-term growth project, scheduled to follow ongoing expansions at Segovia and Marmato. The company anticipated several more years of development work regardless of this regulatory change.
Third, Aris Mining was already redesigning Soto Norte toward a smaller environmental footprint with completion expected by mid-2025, aligning with the two-year evaluation period. This suggests potential for constructive engagement with regulators once the redesign is complete.
The resolution creates a regulatory speedbump rather than a roadblock for Aris Mining. With $644 million market capitalization, the company’s valuation largely reflects its producing assets rather than Soto Norte’s potential. This regulatory development primarily impacts the longer-term growth trajectory without disrupting current operations or near-term expansion plans.
VANCOUVER, BC, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Aris Mining Corporation (Aris Mining or the Company) (TSX: ARIS) (NYSE-A: ARMN) announces that the Colombian Ministry of Environment has completed the public consultation process initiated in November 2024 in respect of the resolution establishing a Temporary Reserve Area (TRA) in the Santurbán region of the Santander Department, where the Soto Norte Project is located. Effective March 4th, this resolution allows the Ministry of Environment to evaluate water resources in the area and temporarily suspend the issuance of environmental licenses for two years. As previously announced, this resolution does not affect Aris Mining’s Segovia Operations, the Marmato Mine or the Lower Mine Project, all of which are licensed and located outside the designated study area.
Neil Woodyer, CEO of Aris Mining, commented “Following the start of the consultation process for the proposed TRA that we announced in November 2024, Aris Mining has continued to advance environmental and technical studies of a smaller-scale version of the Soto Norte Project, with completion expected by mid-2025. Once finalized and with significant local support for the project from the Soto Norte community, we look forward to engaging with the Ministry of Environment and its new leadership, as our redesigned project aligns with the resolution’s focus on environmental protection. We are taking a new approach compared to previous permitting submissions, featuring scaled-down mining operations and processing facilities, a reduced environmental impact, and new processing options to support local small-scale miners. Building on our successful partnerships with small-scale miners at our other Colombian mine sites, the Soto Norte Project offers a responsible solution to reduce existing harm from unauthorized mining activities in the Santurbán region.”
The Soto Norte Project remains several years away from development and is planned to commence following the completion of the ongoing expansions of our Segovia and Marmato Mines.
About Aris Mining
Founded in September 2022, Aris Mining was established with a vision to build a leading Latin America-focused gold mining company. Our strategy blends current production and cashflow generation with transformational growth driven by expansions of our operating assets, exploration and development projects. Aris Mining is listed on the TSX (ARIS) and the NYSE-A (ARMN) and is led by an experienced team with a track record of value creation, operational excellence, financial discipline and good corporate governance in the gold mining industry.
Aris Mining operates two underground gold mines in Colombia: the Segovia Operations and the Marmato Upper Mine, which together produced 210,955 ounces of gold in 2024. With expansions underway, Aris Mining is targeting an annual production rate of more than 450,000 ounces of gold following the ramp-up of the Segovia mill expansion, expected during the second half of 2025, and the new Marmato Lower Mine, which is expected to ramp up in 2026. In addition, Aris Mining operates the 51% owned Soto Norte joint venture, where studies are underway on a new, smaller scale development plan, with results expected in mid-2025. In Guyana, Aris Mining owns the Toroparu gold/copper project, further diversifying its asset portfolio.
Colombia is rich in high-grade gold deposits and Aris Mining is actively pursuing partnerships with the Country’s dynamic small-scale mining sector. With these partnerships, we enable safe, legal, and environmentally responsible operations that benefit both local communities and the industry.
Aris Mining intends to pursue acquisitions and other growth opportunities to unlock value through scale and diversification.
Additional information on Aris Mining can be found at www.aris-mining.com, www.sedarplus.ca, and on www.sec.gov.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to the purpose, timing and impact of the TRA, the Company’s plans and proposed timing related to the Soto Norte Project, the benefits of the Company’s partnership model with small-scale minors, compliance of the Company’s revised development plan with environmental standards and the TRA, the potential economic and environmental benefits of the Soto Norte Project, anticipated production growth, timing of the completion of the Segovia mill expansion and the ramp-up of the Marmato Lower Mine. Generally, the forward-looking information and forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “will continue” or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. The material factors or assumptions used to develop forward looking information or statements are disclosed throughout this news release.
Statements concerning mineral resources and mineral reserve estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward looking information to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered.
Forward looking information and forward looking statements, while based on management’s best estimates and assumptions, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Aris Mining to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or forward looking statements, including but not limited to those factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Aris Mining’s Annual Information Form dated March 6, 2024 which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and in the Company’s filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements. The Company has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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SOURCE Aris Mining Corporation
FAQ
How long will the environmental license suspension last for ARMN’s Santurbán region operations?
The suspension will last for two years, during which the Ministry of Environment will evaluate water resources in the area.
Which Aris Mining (ARMN) operations are affected by the Santurbán region resolution?
Only the Soto Norte Project is affected. Segovia Operations, Marmato Mine, and Lower Mine Project are not impacted as they are licensed and outside the study area.
When will ARMN complete the revised Soto Norte Project studies?
The environmental and technical studies for the smaller-scale version are expected to complete by mid-2025.
What changes are included in ARMN’s redesigned Soto Norte Project?
The redesign includes scaled-down mining operations, reduced environmental impact, and new processing options to support local small-scale miners.
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