ARIS MINING, COLOMBIA'S MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS LAUNCH FORMALIZATION STRATEGY FOR ACTIVE ASM AREAS NEAR MARMATO

Rhea-AI Summary

Aris Mining (TSX: ARIS, NYSE-A: ARMN) has signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Colombia's Ministry of Mines and Energy to formalize artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) near its Marmato operations.

The MOU focuses on the Cerro El Burro area, located above the Marmato Narrow Vein Zone, and aims to enhance safety, environmental outcomes, and local livelihoods. Key initiatives include developing regulatory frameworks, providing technical support to ASM units, promoting environmental stewardship, and expanding social investment opportunities.

Importantly, the agreement does not impact Aris Mining's core operations, including its Narrow Vein Zone (Upper Mine) and the developing Bulk Mining Zone (Lower Mine). The company will offer technical expertise and milling capacity from its existing flotation plant to support formalized ASM operations.

Positive

• Strategic partnership with Colombian government demonstrates strong institutional support
• Potential gold production growth opportunity in the Cerro El Burro area
• Agreement enhances operational stability and community relations
• Core mining operations remain 100% owner-operated and unaffected by the initiative

Negative

• Implementation of formalization process may require significant time and resources
• Coordination with multiple ASM units could present operational challenges

Insights

Mining Industry Specialist

Aris Mining's government-backed ASM formalization agreement creates operational stability while accessing new gold production opportunities without impacting core expansion plans.

This MOU represents a strategic partnership between Aris Mining and Colombia's government to formalize artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) in Marmato, addressing a historically complex challenge in the region. The agreement targets the Cerro El Burro area, which sits above Aris Mining's Upper Mine and has seen active ASM activities since the 16th century, representing a significant production growth opportunity for the company.

What makes this agreement particularly valuable is how it compartmentalizes Aris Mining's assets. The formalization affects only specific title areas and explicitly excludes both the company's current Narrow Vein Zone (Upper Mine) operations and its developing Bulk Mining Zone (Lower Mine) project. The 5,000 tonnes per day carbon-in-pulp plant will remain 100% owner-operated, protecting the company's core expansion strategy.

The company cleverly positions itself to benefit from both worlds – maintaining complete control of its primary operations while gaining access to additional gold resources through formalized ASM production. By offering milling capacity from its existing flotation plant to process ASM-sourced material, Aris creates an efficient arrangement that utilizes existing infrastructure while potentially increasing throughput without major capital investments.

This agreement should reduce operational friction with local miners, enhance community relations, and provide regulatory certainty – all crucial factors for mining operations in jurisdictions with significant artisanal mining presence. By aligning with the government's "Special Mining District for Peace and Life" initiative, Aris Mining gains stronger political support for its broader operations in Colombia.

Spanish version attached

VANCOUVER, BC, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Aris Mining Corporation (Aris Mining or the Company) (TSX: ARIS) (NYSE-A: ARMN) announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) led by Colombia's Ministry of Mines and Energy and other regulatory agencies to accelerate the formalization of artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) operating in the Municipality of Marmato, where the Company is expanding its operations.

Neil Woodyer, CEO, commented "This MOU demonstrates that a successful gold mining business in Colombia is achievable through close collaboration between industry, government, regulators, and local communities. It also highlights the strong institutional support extended to both Aris Mining and the Marmato ASM community and reinforces our shared vision for a responsible and inclusive mining sector. For Aris Mining shareholders, this agreement reaffirms our ability to unlock sustainable, long-term growth. I thank the Colombian Government, especially the Ministry of Mines and Energy, for their leadership in the development and execution of this important initiative.

We are proud to stand alongside representatives from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the National Mining Agency (ANM), the Governor of Caldas, the Mayor of Marmato, CORPOCALDAS (the regional environmental authority), and other key community stakeholders at the official signing ceremony and celebration."

The Cerro El Burro area, located above the Marmato Narrow Vein Zone (Upper Mine) and home to highly active ASM gold mining activities since the 16th century, represents a meaningful gold production growth opportunity for Aris Mining. Formalization delivers long-term benefits to all stakeholders—enhancing safety, environmental outcomes, and livelihoods—while strengthening operational stability as the Company grows gold production at Marmato.

Under the MOU, Aris Mining and the Government will work together to:

• develop the regulatory framework and streamline permitting processes needed to accelerate the ASM units' legal operations within Aris Mining's title areas;
• provide technical support and training to ASM units to help them meet formal mining standards;
• promote environmental stewardship and safe mining methods; and
• expand opportunities for social investment and shared value creation in local communities.

Importantly, the areas covered by this MOU are entirely separate from the titles where Aris Mining operates its Narrow Vein Zone (Upper Mine) and is developing the Bulk Mining Zone (Lower Mine) at the Marmato Complex. The Bulk Mining Zone and its dedicated 5,000 tonnes per day carbon-in-pulp (CIP) plant will remain a 100% owner-operated project and is not impacted by the formalization initiative. To support the formalized ASM units, Aris Mining will contribute technical, operational, and environmental expertise and has offered milling capacity from our existing Narrow Vein Zone flotation plant to process ASM-sourced material.

This MOU forms part of the broader government "Special Mining District for Peace and Life" initiative, which prioritizes Marmato for socio-environmental planning and sustainable mining initiatives. The agreement establishes a collaborative framework to facilitate the transition of ASM groups into the formal economy through use of legal mining and processing operations. It also highlights the Colombian Government's commitment to work directly with established operators such as Aris Mining.  

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 Complex, which together produced 210,955 ounces of gold in 2024. With expansions underway, Aris Mining is targeting an annual production rate of more than 500,000 ounces of gold, following the Segovia mill expansion, completed in June and ramping up during H2 2025, and the construction of the Bulk Mining Zone at the Marmato Complex, expected to start ramping up production in H2 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 Q3 2025. In Guyana, Aris Mining owns the Toroparu gold/copper project, where a new Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) has been commissioned and its results are also expected in Q3 2025.

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, including, without limitation, statements relating to the benefits to be derived from the formalization of ASM units, the commitments of the various parties under the MOU and statements included in the "About Aris Mining" section of this news release relating to the Segovia Operations, Marmato Complex, Soto Norte Project and Toroparu Project are forward-looking. 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.

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 12, 2025 which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and in the Company's filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Although Aris Mining has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information or statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information or statements. The Company has and continues to disclose in its Management's Discussion and Analysis and other publicly filed documents, changes to material factors or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements and to the validity of the information, in the period the changes occur. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and Aris Mining disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

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SOURCE Aris Mining Corporation

FAQ

What is the purpose of Aris Mining's new MOU with Colombia's Ministry of Mines?

The MOU aims to formalize artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) operating near Marmato, enhancing safety, environmental outcomes, and local livelihoods while providing growth opportunities for Aris Mining.

How will the ASM formalization affect Aris Mining's (ARMN) core operations?

The formalization initiative will not impact Aris Mining's core operations, including the Narrow Vein Zone and Bulk Mining Zone, which remain 100% owner-operated.

What support will Aris Mining provide to formalized ASM units?

Aris Mining will provide technical, operational, and environmental expertise, plus access to milling capacity from their existing Narrow Vein Zone flotation plant for processing ASM-sourced material.

Where is the ASM formalization taking place near Aris Mining's operations?

The formalization is focused on the Cerro El Burro area, located above the Marmato Narrow Vein Zone (Upper Mine), where ASM gold mining has been active since the 16th century.

What is the 'Special Mining District for Peace and Life' initiative mentioned in Aris Mining's announcement?

It is a broader government initiative that prioritizes Marmato for socio-environmental planning and sustainable mining initiatives, facilitating the transition of ASM groups into the formal economy.