TORONTO, Dec. 21, 2023 /CNW/ – Strategic Minerals Europe Corp. (NEO: SNTA) (FRA: 26K0) (OTCQB: SNTAF) (“Strategic Minerals” or the “Company“), wishes to provide an update on the provisional suspension (the “Decision“) of the section C permit for the Company’s Penouta tin-tantalum mine in Spain (the “Penouta Project“) as further outlined in the Company’s press releases dated October 20, 2023 and November 8, 2023.

On October 23, 2023, the Company submitted an appeal (the “Appeal“) of the Decision to the Administrative Court of the High Court of Justice of Galicia (the “High Court“). On December 13, 2023, the Company was notified of the High Court’s decision to maintain the Decision and continue the provisional suspension of the Penouta Project until the main proceeding is decided. The Company expects to receive a decision in the main proceeding some time in February 2024.

The Company firmly disagrees with this new decision from the High Court. The Company intends to file an appeal before the Supreme Court on the grounds that the High Court’s recent decision violates essential procedural and substantive norms. The local mining authority Xunta de Galicia has similarly expressed its intention to appeal the December 13, 2023 decision on the same grounds as the Company.

The Company will do everything possible to defend the interests of its workers, clients, suppliers and shareholders so that a strategic, sustainable mining project that meets all requirements and generates wealth, activity and employment in the region is not frustrated.

Strategic Minerals’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Strategic Minerals Spain, S.L.U. (“SMS“), produces, identifies, explores, and develops mineral resource properties critical to the green economy, predominantly in Spain. SMS holds permits and a production license for the Penouta Project. SMS is the largest cassiterite concentrate and tantalite producer in the European Union and has been recognized within the EU as an exemplary company of good practices in the circular economy. The Company is well-positioned as a major producer of sustainable and conflict-free tin, tantalum, and niobium. Strategic Minerals is a “reporting issuer” under applicable securities legislation in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.

Additional information on Strategic Minerals can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.com and its website at http://www.strategicminerals.com.

This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Strategic Minerals to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption “Risks Factors” in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2023, which is available for view on SEDAR+ at http://www.sedarplus.com. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with the mining and exploration industry, such as operational risks in development or capital expenditures, the uncertainty of projections relating to production, and any delays or changes in plans with respect to the exploitation of the site. Strategic Minerals disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management’s estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.