Environmental Permitting Update On Tenguel Bioleaching Plant Progress

TORONTO, ON – BacTech Environmental Corporation (BAC)reported on the environmental permitting progress report on its Tenguel, Ecuador bioleaching plant project.

David Tingey, BacTech’s COO based in Guayaquil, stated, “The technical observations made in the ESIA (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment), reported on the environmental permitting progress report on its Tenguel, Ecuador bioleaching plant project. It has been reviewed by the technical regulator and subsequent observations updated by BacTech. The Company's documentation has been uploaded to the Ministry of the Environment's electronic platform to obtain the official study approval. This ambitious but realistic timeline has been achieved through close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition technical team throughout the process, in addition to the various teams of Ecuadorian consultants and the detailed design engineering company, who have cooperated closely to develop the EISA.”

Currently, the Company is working to socialize the results of the ESIA with the communities in the area of influence and subsequently carry out the final community socialization phase in order to secure its Environmental License and associated permit approvals for the construction of the processing facilities and future bioleaching operations.

“In keeping with our corporate commitments toward communities and sustainability, we’ve worked hard to understand and consider all regional dynamics while building strong and lasting relationships with the people of Tenguel and surrounding communities,” said Ross Orr, President and CEO. “Securing the Ministry’s alignment with our proposed ESIA enables us to move forward with great confidence and work in lockstep to formally socialize the scope and impact of our project plans. Securing our Environmental License is a key component to moving plant construction forward, and we’re pleased to share our progress.”

Beginning with a clear permitting schedule and relevant milestones involving field studies, design evaluations and detailed data gathering on local impacts, BacTech’s ESIA is comprised of local baseline studies where it has been documented to address the physical (abiotic), biotic, social, economic, and cultural considerations to help strategic planning and project implementation. The ESIA contains an Environmental Management Plan (EMP), along sections relating to the corporate Health, Safety and Environment Program (HSE) and an Emergency Response Plan (ERP). Guided by this assessment, the Company plans to develop social, environmental, health and safety procedures that not only satisfy all local regulations, but also incorporate international best practices. To date, the guidance and support that the Ecuadorian Government has shown for our Tenguel project has been greatly appreciated. We’ve seen this demonstrated with our Investment Protection Agreement, and throughout the course of our business discussions about green resource development. I can’t say enough about the help we have received to date.”