Almaden Announces Notification of Court Decision and Updates Progress on Environmental Permit Application and Human Rights Impact Assessment
04 Juillet 2022 - 10:30PM
Almaden Minerals Ltd. (“Almaden” or “the Company”; TSX:
AMM; NYSE American: AAU) reports that, further to its
press releases of April 27 and February 17, 2022, Mexico’s Ministry
of the Economy (“Economia”) has now been officially notified of the
April, 2022 decision of the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico
(“SCJN”), and has in turn notified Almaden that the Company’s
mineral titles relating to the Ixtaca project are “ineffective” but
that the Company’s mineral title applications were filed in
conformity with the Mexican mineral title law. The Company
understands this to mean that the mineral title has reverted to
application status, and that these applications preserve the
mineral rights for Almaden but do not allow the Company to engage
in exploration, until such time as Economia completes its
court-ordered indigenous consultation in the area covered by the
mineral title applications.
Duane Poliquin, Chair of Almaden, stated, “With
the completion of this legal case, the ball is now in Economia’s
court to quickly and effectively complete all the requirements and
re issue the mineral titles. While it is the government’s
responsibility to correct its mineral title issuance procedures,
Almaden stands ready to cooperate in any manner it can.”
As previously reported, in its final decision
the SCJN takes note of the application of international law and
jurisprudence to the implementation of consultation by Mexican
authorities with relevant indigenous communities. The final
decision provides additional detail to Mexican authorities
regarding the procedures required to be followed by those
authorities in the performance of indigenous consultation prior to
the grant of mineral claims. The decision also clarifies that
unless there is a significant impact on the rights of an indigenous
community caused by the granting of the mineral title, such as
relocation or something similar, title issuance is not dependent
upon the consent of the indigenous community in question. As
previously disclosed, the Company has no interest in holding
mineral claims over the land of the indigenous community which
initiated this legal case.
Almaden looks forward to interacting with
authorities in Mexico in order to clarify next steps and facilitate
to the extent possible the government’s execution of its
responsibilities in the issuance of the mineral titles. At present
there is no defined timeline for the consultation process.
Regarding the environmental permit application
(“MIA”) and Human Rights Impact Assessment (“HRIA”), the Company is
pleased to report that the MIA application is substantially
complete. Almaden looks forward to being in a position to submit
the MIA application once the HRIA document (see below) and the
indigenous consultation regarding the mineral title issuance, are
finalized.
The Company continues to advance the HRIA, which
aims to predict, identify, characterize, and assess the impacts
that the Ixtaca project may have on human rights, as well as to
propose strategies which amplify the positive impacts and mitigate
or compensate for any negative ones. While not a requirement under
Mexican law, the Company believes that completion of an HRIA
reflects best international standards and produces substantial
long-term value for stakeholders as it is conducive to operational
continuity, community integration with the project, and culturally
pertinent sustainable development for all stakeholders.
This important exercise involves extensive field
work under the oversight of an Advisory Committee comprised of
local community representatives and subject-matter experts.
Significant progress has been made on the HRIA and the Company
anticipates that it will be finalised this year.
About Almaden
Almaden Minerals Ltd. owns 100% of the Ixtaca
project in Puebla State, Mexico, subject to a 2.0% NSR royalty held
by Almadex Minerals Ltd. The Ixtaca deposit hosts a proven and
probable reserve containing 1.38 million ounces of gold and 85.1
million ounces of silver (73.1 million tonnes grading 0.59 g/t Au
and 36.3 g/t Ag). A report titled “Ixtaca Gold-Silver Project,
Puebla State, Mexico NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Feasibility
Study”, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, is
available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR and on the Company’s
website. The Ixtaca Gold-Silver Deposit was discovered by Almaden
in 2010.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
“J. Duane Poliquin”J. Duane
PoliquinChairmanAlmaden Minerals Ltd.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain of the statements and information in
this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the
meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, are
forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking
statements or information in this news release relate to, among
other things, that the decision clarifies that the Company’s
mineral rights at the Ixtaca project are protected while the mining
authorities conduct any necessary consultations prior to granting
formal title, Almaden potentially interacting with Mexican
government officials and local community officials in order to
facilitate the government’s execution of its responsibilities, the
timing and procedures for any consultation by the Ministry of the
Economy with indigenous communities, the timing and procedures for
the Ministry of the Economy to issue mineral titles to Almaden, the
timing of completion and/or submission of the environmental permit
application and human rights impact assessment, and the potential
of the HRIA to be conducive to operational continuity, community
integration with the project, and culturally pertinent sustainable
development for all stakeholders.
These forward-looking statements and information
reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events
and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while
considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to
significant legal, regulatory, business, operational and economic
uncertainties and contingencies, and such uncertainty generally
increases with longer-term forecasts and outlook. These assumptions
include: stability and predictability in Mexico’s consultation
process with indigenous communities and judicial decisions thereon;
stability and predictability in Mexico’s mineral tenure, mining,
environmental and agrarian laws and regulations, as well as their
application and judicial decisions thereon; continued respect for
the rule of law in Mexico; prices for gold, silver and base metals
remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as
estimated; availability of funds; capital, decommissioning and
reclamation estimates; mineral reserve and resource estimates;
prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services
(including transportation); no labour-related disruptions; all
necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals being received
in a timely manner; the ability to secure and maintain title and
ownership to properties and the surface rights necessary for
operations; community support in the Ixtaca Project; and the
ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The
foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
The Company cautions the reader that
forward-looking statements and information involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results and developments to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or
information contained in this news release. Such risks and other
factors include, among others, risks related to: Mexico’s
consultation process with indigenous communities and potential
litigation in respect thereof; political risk in Mexico; crime and
violence in Mexico; corruption; environmental risks, including
environmental matters under Mexican laws and regulations; impact of
environmental impact assessment requirements on the Company’s
planned exploration and development activities on the Ixtaca
Project; certainty of mineral title and the outcome of litigation;
community relations; governmental regulations and the ability to
obtain necessary licences and permits; risks related to mineral
properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements,
transfers or claims and other defects in title; changes in mining,
environmental or agrarian laws and regulations and changes in the
application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations
which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations;
as well as those factors discussed the section entitled "Risk
Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information Form and Almaden's latest
Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission in Washington, D.C. Although the Company has attempted
to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may
cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from
those described in forward-looking statements or information, there
may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to
be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that our forward-looking statements or information will prove to be
accurate. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by
law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly
any revisions to on forward-looking statements or information
contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events.
Contact Information:
Almaden Minerals Ltd.Tel. 604.689.7644Email:
info@almadenminerals.comhttp://www.almadenminerals.com/
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