REG - Metals Exploration - Publication of Fifth Sustainability Report

Metals ExplorationAnnouncement

04/04/2025 07:15

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RNS Number : 6964D  Metals Exploration PLC  04 April 2025

4 April 2025

METALS EXPLORATION PLC

Publication of Fifth Sustainability Report

Metals Exploration plc (AIM: MTL) ("Metals Exploration", the "Company" or,
together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), a gold production, exploration,
and development company with assets in the Philippines and Nicaragua, is
pleased to announce the publication of the fifth sustainability report by FCF
Minerals Corporation ("FCF Minerals" or "FCF"), the Company's 100% owned
subsidiary that operates the Runruno Project. The Sustainability Report covers
the Group's sustainability performance in the Philippines for the year ended
31 December 2024.

View the Sustainability Report
at: https://metalsexploration.com/esg/esg-overview/
(https://metalsexploration.com/esg/esg-overview/)

The FCF Sustainability Report was previously biennial, but the Company has
taken the decision to update this to an annual publication to further enhance
transparency and accountability. The Sustainability Report covers progress
over the year, the Company's outlook for the future, and presents FCF
Minerals' initiatives, targets, milestones, challenges, and impacts during the
year, highlighting what matters for its stakeholders based on a refined
materiality assessment.

Highlights

·   Economic contributions increased by 18% to PHP 10.97 billion
(approximately US$146 million), with products and services sourced from host
communities totalling PHP 190.34 million (approximately US$2.5 million).

·    Safety of employees is fundamental, with over 25 million man-hours
worked without a lost time injury occurring. This represents a 15% increase in
safe man-hours from 2023.

·   Local community and infrastructure investments through the Company's
Social Development and Management Programme ("SDMP") totalled PHP 86.38
million (approximately US$1.2 million), an increase of 13% from 2023. The SDMP
encompasses education, health, livelihood and infrastructure development, and
supported 10 communities in 2024.

o  FCF purchased, delivered and installed 65 units of serviceable solar
lights to monitor security and safety of road users.

o  In one community, FCF installed functional pipelines and accessories to
improve availability of clean water for domestic use and sanitation.

o  FCF developed a hanging footbridge for two barangays to increase access
for schoolchildren.

·     FCF's habitat restoration programme continued to grow, with 6.62
hectares of land restored to its original habitat, representing a 27% increase
from 2023. 56.56 hectares of disturbed land was restored, over 13,000 trees
were donated from the FCF nursery to the community, and 871 hectares of
habitat areas were protected.

·     FCF strives to increase environmental responsibility, and in 2024
saw water consumption decrease by 10.97% and total GHG emissions decrease by
15.10% from 2023.

·     The Group has 853 total employees, an increase of 10.5% from 2023.
Over 98% of the workforce is comprised of Filipino employees.

·     The Company's commitment to create long-term positive impacts for
its stakeholders was recognised again in 2024, through the receipt of a number
of prestigious awards, including the Presidential Mineral Industry
Environmental Award in the Surface Mining Operation Category, for the third
year in a row, the highest government mining award attainable in the
Philippines.

 

Darren Bowden, CEO of Metals Exploration, commented:

"I am immensely proud of the contents of this report and the work that was
carried out by FCF Minerals in 2024. Our core focus is to enhance the lives of
our people and local communities through the responsible management of our
natural resources. We remain committed to our objective of fostering inclusive
economic growth within our communities through the prioritisation of local
procurement and employment opportunities, along with investments in
infrastructure development, education, training programmes, and livelihood
assistance.

"I encourage all shareholders and stakeholders to read the report as it will
provide you with a comprehensive overview of the work that FCF Minerals is
conducting to create net positive outcomes for all of our stakeholders.

"Thank you to all our local stakeholders and partners for their ongoing
support. We look forward to building on the success of 2024 with further
positive developments for the local community and environment in 2025, with
work already underway in the first quarter of this year."

 

For further information, please contact or visit:

 Metals Exploration PLC
 Via BlytheRay                            +44 (0) 207 138 3204

 Nominated & Financial Adviser:           STRAND HANSON LIMITED
 James Spinney, James Dance, Rob Patrick  +44 (0) 207 409 3494
 Broker:                                  HANNAM & PARTNERS
 Matt Hasson, Franck Nganou               +44 (0) 207 907 8500

 Public Relations:                        BLYTHERAY
 Megan Ray, Said Izagaren                 +44 (0) 207 138 3204

metalsexploration@blytheray.com

 

Web:                www.metalsexploration.com
(http://www.metalsexploration.com)

X:                     @MTLexploration
(https://twitter.com/MTLexploration)

LinkedIn:           Metals Exploration
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/metals-exploration-plc)

 

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