Almaden Minerals Ltd. (“Almaden” or “the Company”; TSX:
AMM; NYSE American: AAU) is pleased to report that it has
recently signed two new agreements with not-for-profit
organizations established by inhabitants of the local towns of
Zacatepec and Santa María Zotoltepec, the two communities closest
to the Ixtaca project, in Puebla State, Mexico.
These agreements set out the terms of the
Company’s continued support of local communities' human right to
water through the immediate improvement of local water
infrastructure, and establish a basis for longer term cooperation,
once the Ixtaca project is permitted, on priorities identified
through the 2017 EVIS (see press release of December 12, 2017) and
the ongoing independent Human Rights Impact Assessment commissioned
by the Company (see press release of October 19, 2021). The
agreements will facilitate the formation and delivery of the
Project’s Social Management Plan which will evolve from the Human
Rights Impact Assessment and be mindful of the UN’s Sustainable
Development Goals1 as reflected in the priorities of the UN Agenda
20302 (see press release of July 6, 2022).
In Zacatepec, the Company has reaffirmed its
agreement with the "Irrigation Group of Small Producers from
Zacatepec A.C.” (“IGSP”), first announced in March, 2020, wherein
it committed to work with them and Mexico’s water authority
(“CONAGUA”) to construct an agricultural water reservoir and
related pumping and drip irrigation system to support local
farming. The reservoir and infrastructure were completed some time
ago, and the Company is currently supporting an expansion of the
irrigation system. A video made following initial construction of
this dam can be viewed on YouTube at
https://youtu.be/-mhnTl0dOoM.
IGSP stated that, “The project developed under
the first agreement represented the following benefits to the
Community of Zacatepec: savings of 40-50% of water as a result of
the drip irrigation, as well as more abundant harvests, better crop
survival, labour savings and a greater economic benefit for its
members, and well-being for our community.” Zacatepec is located
approximately one kilometre from the footprint of the Ixtaca
project.
In Santa María Zotoltepec (“SMZ”), the Company
has signed an agreement with the “United Ejidatarios for the
Sustainable Development of Santa María Zotoltepec, A.C.” (“EJUNDS”)
in which the Company will make an immediate contribution in order
to support the construction of a similar agricultural reservoir and
pumping and drip irrigation system with similar characteristics to
the one built at Zacatepec, and ongoing contributions to support an
agro-technological package aimed at sustainable plant nutrition and
soil enrichment. Longer term, the agreement commits the parties to
work collaboratively under the Project’s Social Management Plan in
pursuit of multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals. As this is
the first formal agreement signed with EJUNDS, a signing ceremony
was held recently in the community.
EJUNDS stated that, “As partners and ejidatarios
of the Community of Santa María Zotoltepec, we wish to continue
collaborating and engaging with the Company so that we can
participate in programs that ensure local benefits such as
employment, training, and economic diversification, and also so
that we can monitor the development and operation of the Ixtaca
project once it is permitted and in operation.” SMZ is located
approximately 1.5 kilometres from the footprint of the Ixtaca
project.
Both agreements above note that the signatories
have been engaged in informed and respectful consultations with the
Company for many years, and that the signatories understand the
scope of the exploration and proposed extraction activities at
Ixtaca. These consultations and agreements will form the basis for
the commitments that will evolve from the Ixtaca project’s Social
Management Plan.
Duane Poliquin, Chair of Almaden, stated “We are
pleased to continue providing immediate, tangible and effective
support to local communities on one of their key human rights
priorities, the human right to water. At Zacatepec, we have seen
how effective the agricultural reservoir has been and are excited
to see Santa María Zotoltepec benefit from similar development.
Perhaps more importantly, these agreements set us up to deliver,
together with community members, on the important elements set out
in the Company’s Human Rights Policy such as water rights,
education, health, opportunity, workers’ rights, environment,
culture, and more. We look forward to continued culturally
pertinent collaboration and information sharing with these and
other groups in order to properly seize the opportunity presented
by the Ixtaca project.”
1 https://sdgs.un.org/goals2
https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
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
PoliquinChairAlmaden 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, construction of an agricultural dam and related
infrastructure in the community of Santamaria Zotoltepec, the
potential permitting and development of the Ixtaca project, ongoing
collaboration with EJUNDS and IGSP, and the potential of the Ixtaca
project to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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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