Aurania Provides Update on New Mining Service Fee in Ecuador

Rhea-AI Summary

Aurania Resources (OTCQB: AUIAF) has provided an update regarding Ecuador's new Mining Service Fee (TASA) implementation. The company has been requested to pay US$2,012,618 by July 31, 2025, representing one month of the total annual administrative fee of $24,151,420.

The company faces additional financial obligations with 2025 concession fees totaling US$2,441,227. Aurania has arranged to make an initial payment of US$488,245 (20% plus interest) by August 8, 2025, while negotiating payment terms for the remaining balance.

The new TASA fees exceed Aurania's current market capitalization and are considered unsustainable by the company. Four constitutional challenges against these fees are currently under review by Ecuadorian courts.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• New annual administrative fee of $24.15M exceeds company's market cap
• Additional concession fees of $2.44M due for 2025
• Risk of mineral concession forfeiture if payment agreement not reached
• Company faces unsustainable cost burden with no revenue generation

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 28, 2025) - Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) (FSE: 20Q) ("Aurania" or the "Company") provides an update on the Ecuadorian government's recently imposed new Mining Service Fee (Tasa de Fiscalización Minera or TASA) on the resource sector.

As previously disclosed in a press release dated June 11, 2025, the resolution put forth by the Ecuadorian Control and Regulation Agency ("ARCOM") in relation to new administrative fees for the mining sector has now taken effect and the Company has received notice of the fee as it applies to its project in Ecuador. The resolution was published in the Official Registry on June 20, 2025, and on June 27, 2025, ARCOM issued a resolution outlining the official regulations detailing the payment collection mechanism for the administrative fee. Under this new regulation, ARCOM has requested that the Company pay US$2,012,618 by July 31, 2025, equivalent to one month of the total annual administrative fee of $24,151,420. These annual fees amount to more than Aurania's current market capitalisation and present an unsustainable cost burden for Aurania and other companies operating within the sector. These new fees are especially burdensome for companies working in early-stage exploration, which is a critical component of the mining pipeline, as standalone exploration-stage companies typically do not generate revenue and therefore rely solely on investment through capital markets to fund their projects.

Aurania's Chairman, President & CEO, Dr. Keith Barron commented, "Aurania has a long history of working and investing in Ecuador. I'm a big believer in our project there, and I value the cooperative relationships that we have built to date. However, the new fees are excessive and disproportionate. The Mining Chamber along with other companies working in Ecuador are appalled by the administrative fee. As we continue to work on possible solutions we will always endeavour to be fully transparent with our shareholders and will continue to provide updates on this evolving situation."

To our knowledge, four constitutional challenges against the new administrative fees have been presented in Ecuador and are being analyzed by the Court to determine if the claims will be accepted. The decision whether or not to accept the claims may take several months and, if accepted, the constitutional challenges could take several years. In the meantime, if the claims are accepted, ARCOM may or may not be directed to halt the collection of the fees.

The Company will wait for these procedures to follow their course, and it will assess its legal rights and options for further courses of action.

2025 Concession Fees

In March 2025, the Company filed a request to enter into an agreement for the deferred payment of the annual concession fees with the Ecuadorian tax authority (SRI) which total US$2,441,227 - see press release dated March 31, 2025. As part of this process, the Company will make a first payment of US$488,245 equivalent to 20% of the 2025 concession fees plus accumulated interest by August 8, 2025. The Company expects to continue to negotiate the payment terms for the balance of its 2025 concession fees. A failure to reach an agreement could result in the remaining balance becoming immediately due and payable and a potential forfeiture of the mineral concessions.

About Aurania

Aurania is a mineral exploration company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and copper in South America. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities - Cutucu Project, is located in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of southeastern Ecuador.

Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at www.aurania.com and www.sedarplus.ca, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/auranialtd/, X (formerly Twitter) at https://x.com/AuraniaLtd , and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurania-resources-ltd-.

For further information, please contact:

Carolyn Muir
VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations
Aurania Resources Ltd.
(416) 367-3200
carolyn.muir@aurania.com

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information as such term is defined in applicable securities laws, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. The forward-looking information includes Aurania's objectives, goals and future plans in respect of the administration fee imposed by ARCOM and the status and negotiation for the deferred payment of the annual concession fees with the Ecuadorian tax authority.Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Aurania, including the assumption that, there will be no material adverse change in metal prices, all necessary consents, licenses, permits and approvals will be obtained, including various local government licenses and the market. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information include, among other things: an inability to fund the administrative fees imposed by ARCOM on the mining sector which could render the Company insolvent; an inability to fund or extend the payment of Ecuador mineral concession fees which are due and payable and which could result in the forfeiture of such mineral concessions; failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the inability to recover and process mineralization using known mining methods; the presence of deleterious mineralization or the inability to process mineralization in an environmentally acceptable manner; commodity prices, supply chain disruptions, restrictions on labour and workplace attendance and local and international travel; a failure to obtain or delays in obtaining the required regulatory licenses, permits, approvals and consents; an inability to access financing as needed; a general economic downturn, a volatile stock price, labour strikes, political unrest, changes in the mining regulatory regime governing Aurania; a failure to comply with environmental regulations; a weakening of market and industry reliance on precious metals and base metals; and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+. Aurania cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260293

FAQ

What is the new Mining Service Fee (TASA) Aurania must pay in Ecuador?

Aurania must pay US$2,012,618 by July 31, 2025, which represents one month of the total annual administrative fee of $24,151,420.

How much are AUIAF's 2025 concession fees in Ecuador?

Aurania's 2025 concession fees total US$2,441,227, with an initial payment of US$488,245 due by August 8, 2025.

What legal challenges exist against Ecuador's new mining fees?

Four constitutional challenges have been filed and are being reviewed by the Court, with the process potentially taking several months to years for resolution.

What risks does AUIAF face regarding its Ecuador concessions?

Aurania faces potential forfeiture of its mineral concessions if it fails to reach a payment agreement for the remaining balance of its 2025 concession fees.

How do the new TASA fees impact Aurania's operations?

The fees present an unsustainable cost burden for Aurania, as they exceed the company's current market capitalization and the company generates no revenue as an exploration-stage company.