The Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD, National Disaster Risk Management Unit) reported at least 273 people dead, 3,824 injured and 377 missing as of August 13, 2026, three days after a magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck the department of Chocó near San José del Palmar, according to agency director David Santiago Tamayo. The quake and its aftershocks damaged infrastructure across Chocó, Risaralda, Caldas and Valle del Cauca, affecting roughly 40,750 families. Collective Mining Ltd. (NASDAQ: CNL) (TSX: CNL), whose Guayabales and San Antonio gold, silver, copper and tungsten exploration projects lie roughly 100 kilometers from the epicenter, said none of its personnel were injured and none of its assets were damaged.

Rather than limit its response to its own project sites, the company said it is directing humanitarian support toward Manizales, the Caldas department capital about 80 kilometers from its Supía, Caldas operations, where it already has partnerships with local organizations. Collective Mining said it has been coordinating directly with municipal authorities, local fire departments and business associations to determine where that support is needed most.

On technical matters, the company will work with the Alcaldía de Manizales (Mayor’s Office of Manizales). Its monetary and in-kind contributions will flow through four organizations already active in the recovery: the Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia (National Business Association of Colombia, or ANDI), which is coordinating reconstruction planning in the hardest-hit areas; the Caldas chapter of the Cruz Roja Colombiana (Colombian Red Cross) and ProCaldas, a public-private development alliance, both focused on health infrastructure; and the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia), which is targeting local school infrastructure.

Collective Mining traces its roots to Continental Gold Inc., the company that developed Colombia’s Buriticá gold mine before Zijin Mining Group (HKEX: 2899) (SSE: 601899) bought it in an all-cash deal valued at $1.4 billion CAD in enterprise value, a transaction that closed in March 2020. The same management group — now led by Executive Chairman Ari Sussman and President Omar Ossma, who served as Continental Gold’s legal vice president — regrouped around Continental Gold’s old playbook, exploring for gold, silver, copper and tungsten at Guayabales and San Antonio, two adjacent Caldas properties inside a district that already hosts 10 permitted, operating mines. Guayabales’ Apollo system, a large gold-silver-copper-tungsten discovery, is the company’s primary exploration target; recent drilling there has centered on extending the high-grade Ramp Zone and testing a newly exposed oxidized zone to the north.

“In moments like this, a coordinated response is essential to effectively reach affected communities. The support of organizations such as Collective Mining strengthens our ability to address immediate needs and support the recovery efforts underway in Manizales,” said Darío Gómez, president of the board of the Cruz Roja Colombiana’s Caldas chapter. “We appreciate their commitment to working alongside local institutions and organizations as the situation continues to evolve.”

“The safety and wellbeing of our people and communities is our first priority. I have been on the ground in Colombia working directly with our team and local stakeholders to lead our response and understand where assistance is most needed,” said Ossma. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the earthquake. We are mobilizing support through organizations that are positioned to direct assistance where it can have the greatest impact. We will continue to support our employees, their families and the broader community as recovery efforts progress.”

Management, insiders, a strategic investor and family and friends of the founding team own 45.2% of Collective Mining’s outstanding shares, according to the company.

Headline photo: Manizales skyline (Pixabay)

Collective Mining Ltd. (NYSE American: CNL; TSX: CNL) reported zero lost-time injuries among its direct employees and no environmental non-compliance during 2025, while investing approximately $1.45 million in community programs across its exploration projects in Caldas, Colombia.

The company released its 2025 Sustainability Report on July 22, 2026, covering its environmental, social and safety performance as Collective expanded exploration at the Guayabales and San Antonio projects. During the year, the company completed 62,500 meters of exploration drilling, its largest annual drilling campaign to date.

“The outcomes outlined in our latest sustainability report reflect the company we are building: technically ambitious, locally rooted and disciplined in how we grow.” – Omar Ossma, President, Collective Mining

Improving safety and local employment

Collective reported zero Lost Time Injuries among direct employees during 2025 and a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of 0%. The company also reported zero instances of environmental non-compliance during the year.

Direct employment increased 38% year-over-year as the company expanded its exploration, engineering and social activities. Employees from Caldas represented 81% of the company’s direct workforce at year-end, while women accounted for 35% of direct employment.

The results come as Collective continues to expand exploration around the Apollo system, the centerpiece of its Guayabales Project.

$1.45 million directed toward communities

Collective invested approximately $1.45 million in social programs during 2025. The company said 57.5% of the funding came directly from Collective, while strategic partners contributed the remaining 42.5%.

The programs reached 18,880 beneficiaries across 1,745 families and strengthened the capabilities of 237 community leaders.

The initiatives operate under Collective’s “The Collective Way” framework, which emphasizes long-term partnerships in areas including water access and sanitation, infrastructure, education, agricultural development, technical training and community capacity building.

The company’s community strategy is particularly relevant to its operations in Caldas, where Collective’s exploration activities are located alongside established mining operations.

Exploration expands in 2026

Collective has continued its aggressive exploration campaign into 2026. The company reported in June that it had completed more than 184,000 meters of diamond drilling across the Guayabales and San Antonio projects, including 120,000 meters at Apollo.

The Apollo system has produced further exploration results during the year. On June 29, Collective reported a newly identified tungsten-enriched high-grade subzone approximately 300 meters below surface. Drill hole APC-162 intersected 27.35 meters grading 37.55 grams per tonne gold equivalent, including 1.68% tungsten oxide, 11.62 grams per tonne gold, 54 grams per tonne silver and 0.43% copper.

Collective said in July that it had also secured additional mining titles from Colombia’s National Mining Agency following public hearings in Supía and Marmato. The company said the new titles materially expanded its titled land position and created additional drill-ready targets within and adjacent to the Guayabales project area.

As of March 31, 2026, Collective reported $113.3 million in cash and said it was fully funded for its 2026 exploration program, which calls for up to 100,000 meters of drilling. The company had 13 diamond drill rigs operating across Guayabales.

Management and the path toward development

Ned Jalil became Collective’s chief executive officer in April 2025, while Omar Ossma remained president. Finance Colombia previously reported that the appointment brought a mining executive with more than 25 years of international experience into the company’s leadership as Collective considered the longer-term development potential of Guayabales.

Ossma said the sustainability results reflect the company’s approach as it advances both Guayabales and San Antonio.

“As we advance the Guayabales and San Antonio projects, we remain focused on deepening local partnerships, managing our environmental responsibilities and ensuring that the value created through discovery is inclusive and long-lasting,” Ossma said.

Collective was founded by members of the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining Group for approximately $2 billion in enterprise value. The company is exploring for gold, silver, copper and tungsten in Caldas, where Guayabales and San Antonio form the core of its Colombian portfolio.

The company’s flagship Guayabales Project is anchored by the Apollo system, which Collective describes as a bulk-tonnage, high-grade gold-silver-copper-tungsten system. Current exploration priorities include expanding the Ramp Zone, testing the Northern Apollo Oxidized area, drilling the northwestern extension of the Trap target and pursuing additional greenfield targets.

Collective’s 2025 Sustainability Report provides the company’s latest formal account of its safety, environmental and community performance as it moves into a larger 2026 exploration program.

Headline photo : A mural showing artisanal mining in Supía Colombia, where Collective Mining has participated funding of municipal improvement projects.. (Photo by Finance Colombia)

The company is partnering with the Guamal Afro-Colombian Community Council, the Gobernación de Caldas (Governor’s Office of Caldas), CorpoCaldas — the regional environmental authority — and the Alcaldía de Supía (Municipality of Supía) to develop the project. Once built, the installation is expected to deliver approximately 600 kilowatts peak (kWp) of solar generation capacity, benefiting about 2,000 residents across 420 households.

Carlos Andres Moreno, President of the Guamal Afro-Colombian Community Council, said the project gives the community a stake in its own development. “This project represents an important development opportunity for our community and has the potential to make a meaningful difference for our families and future generations. We are proud that Guamal is participating in this initiative, which demonstrates what can be achieved when communities, public institutions and the private sector work together. We believe it can create new opportunities and contribute to a stronger future for our community,” Moreno said.

Omar Ossma, President of Collective Mining, said the community’s organization made it a strong partner for the initiative. “The Guamal community has a strong cultural identity, a well-organized structure and a clear vision for its future. Collective is committed to working alongside communities and institutional partners on practical initiatives that support regional development and create meaningful social, economic and environmental benefits. Building trusted relationships through meaningful participation and collaboration remains central to the Company’s approach in the regions where it operates,” Ossma said.

“This project represents an important development opportunity for our community and has the potential to make a meaningful difference for our families and future generations.” — Carlos Andres Moreno, President, Guamal Afro-Colombian Community Council

Once completed, the project is expected to:

• Provide the community with access to a reliable source of locally-generated renewable energy;
• Reduce household electricity costs and generate revenue from the sale of surplus energy;
• Support local employment and skills development;
• Strengthen community participation in energy planning and management; and
• Reduce emissions associated with conventional electricity generation.

Collective Mining describes the initiative as among the first community energy projects of its kind in Caldas, and says it could serve as a model for connecting other communities to renewable energy solutions.

The solar project adds to Collective Mining’s broader community engagement in Caldas, where the company holds exploration rights to the Guayabales and San Antonio projects near the municipalities of Supía and Marmato. The company has previously published sustainability and ESG reporting tied to its Colombian operations, and Ossma discussed the company’s community strategy in a previous interview with Finance Colombia.

Collective Mining was founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining for approximately $1.4 billion USD in enterprise value. The company explores for gold, silver, copper and tungsten in Caldas, where its two projects sit within an established mining camp alongside ten permitted and operating mines. Its flagship project, Guayabales, is anchored by the Apollo system, a bulk-tonnage gold-silver-copper-tungsten deposit where the company continues to expand the high-grade Ramp Zone and test new targets across the property.

Above photo courtesy EPM (Tepuy Solar Park)

The timing of the report, released by a firm that stands to profit from a decline in Collective Mining’s stock price, raises questions about its objectivity. Short sellers like Morpheus Research make money by borrowing shares of a company’s stock, selling them, and then repurchasing them later at a lower price to return to the lender, pocketing the difference. This practice, while legal, has long been a source of ethical controversy. Critics argue that short sellers may disseminate negative or even misleading information to intentionally drive down a company’s share price, profiting at the expense of other investors. While this can sometimes expose legitimate issues within a company, it can also create market volatility and lead to undue financial losses for long-term shareholders.

Dubious Claims and Collective’s Rebuttal

Morpheus Research’s report claims that a significant portion of Collective Mining’s exploration and drilling for the Apollo system has been conducted on untitled land and within environmentally protected riparian buffer zones. Citing an investigation using satellite imagery and data from the Agencia Nacional de Minería (ANM), the report alleges that some drill pads were built entirely outside the company’s officially granted mining titles.

Collective Mining’s response, however, offers a detailed and technical refutation. The company’s press release clarifies that small, incomplete cells or gaps between titles are a common administrative issue in Colombia’s mining sector. Ari Sussman, executive chairman, commented, “Having operated in Colombia for almost 20 years, the issue related to incomplete cells and gaps within or next to titles is nothing new and affects much of the mining industry. We faced a similar situation while operating at Continental Gold, which was successfully resolved.”

The Collective’s statement asserts that these incomplete cells, which resulted from the conversion of old claim shapes into square cells, cannot be staked by any third party. The company had already requested that the Colombian authorities integrate these cells into its title, and the authorities confirmed this would happen once their software is updated.

On the matter of environmental claims, Omar Ossma, president of Collective Mining, stated:

“As a Colombian national and lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in the mining and energy industry, I take great pride in ensuring that our Company operates with full respect for Colombian law, institutions, and communities.” He added that the allegations “are without legal merit and reflect a misunderstanding, or misrepresentation, of Colombia’s mining framework,” Ossma explained that drilling outside mining title boundaries is permissible under the Colombian Mining Code to meet technical requirements, such as understanding a deposit’s geometry and assessing geotechnical factors. Collective also confirmed that the Apollo system does not overlap with any areas excluded from mining and that it has obtained special permits from environmental authorities for drilling within water drainage buffer zones where necessary.

Management’s Track Record and Reputational Context

The Morpheus report also brought up a controversial incident from Mr. Sussman’s past at Colossus Minerals, a company that faced corruption allegations and later filed for creditor protection in Brazil. While this information is not directly relevant to Collective’s operations, the company’s defense hinges on the strong reputation and track record of its management team, a key point for investors.

The core of this reputation stems from their previous work at Continental Gold Inc., which was ultimately sold to China’s Zijin Mining Group (SEHK: 2899, SSE: 601899) for approximately $2 billion USD. As previously noted by Finance Colombia, that deal showcased the team’s ability to develop a significant mining asset from exploration to operation. The sale of Continental Gold to Zijin Mining for a premium demonstrated the management’s capacity to create substantial shareholder value in Colombia’s mining sector, a fact that both the company and the editorial opinion of this publication view as highly relevant.

Collective Mining is continuing its exploration program at its Guayabales and San Antonio projects, with 10 rigs currently in operation as part of a fully funded 70,000-meter drill program for 2025. The company’s management and insiders own a significant 44.5% of the outstanding shares, aligning their interests directly with those of shareholders.

See also: Collective Mining Applauded By Local Town For Social Outreach Efforts

Ned Jalil is a seasoned mining executive with over 25 years of global experience across gold, silver, and key battery metals including copper and nickel. Jalil has successfully led projects from exploration through to feasibility, construction and production.

Jalil has held senior executive roles with Kinross Gold and Appian Capital. As Chief Technical Officer at Kinross, Ned was instrumental in advancing key assets, including the Great Bear project, where he delivered a 5-million-ounce initial resource, and Manh Choh, where he led a team that transitioned the asset from study to construction. At Appian, Ned led the construction and operational readiness of the MVV Copper-Gold Project, completing it ahead of schedule and under budget.

Ned holds an MBA from the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA Program, along with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in mining engineering from Queen’s University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 and brings a strong foundation of technical and academic excellence to his leadership roles.

“I am thrilled to be joining such a dynamic and growing company where I can lead a team with the goal of advancing the Guayabales project’s Apollo discovery to production. Both the Guayabales and San Antonio projects are fortunately located in areas with excellent infrastructure, with mining-supportive populations and local governments. The potential for growth at the Guayabales project is astounding, and I am excited to be part of one of the best discoveries of the past decade made in Latin America,” said Jalil.

“On behalf of the board of directors and management team, I would like to welcome Ned to the Collective team. Ned is a dynamic individual who thinks outside the box and loves to tackle challenges head-on. The company is now moving at a rapid pace, and Ned’s background and experience are exactly what we need at this juncture to take the Guayabales project to an ultimate production decision,” commented Ari Sussman, Executive Chairman.

Analysis

Adding someone with Jalil’s experience and background indicates that Collective may be ready to move into a new phase at its Caldas mining site. As a native Colombian and lawyer, Omar Ossma has done an excellent job navigating the complex regulatory environment in Colombia and establishing relationships with the local community.

Bringing Jalil in signals that the company is ready to move from the exploratory state into the construction of infrastructure and building out a proper mine. This duo working together is an optimistic omen for Collective’s success.

New Collective Mining CEO Ned Jalil Photo credit: Collective Mining Ltd.

Finance Colombia: I’m here with Omar Ossma of Collective Mining, and you guys just gave a fascinating presentation on the project that you are developing in Caldas. Collective is a fascinating company to me because it’s made up largely of executives who came out of the successful Continental project that you guys developed a few years ago. But now you have announced that you have a new project, as part of your drilling program- This year you are on track to complete 40 kilometers of drilling. Is that correct?

Omar Ossma: Yes, sir. We are hoping to do 40,000 meters of drilling. The good thing is that the 40,000 meters are going to end with very good news. We communicated a couple of weeks ago that we found a high-grade zone and something like 1,000 meters below the surface, which is very interesting. Apollo, our flagship discovery, has been evolving very nicely since 2022 when we first discovered it. And today, thinking back, in 2023 when we discovered Tungsten, and now 2024, we have this new area, the Ramp Zone, a high-grade area, a high-grade zone, it’s made Collective Mining enter into a very exciting phase of drilling and exploration.

Finance Colombia: Now, we are always excited to cover you. Tell me: Is it the ‘Ramp Zone’ or the ‘Trap Project’? The name of this discovery that you guys have made.

Omar Ossma: Okay, so, the Ramp Zone is part of the deep zone of Apollo. It’s not part of the Trap.

Maybe you saw in our presentation when we did, we had an image and we showed the different discoveries. You can see Apollo and Trap, and then you can see the valley. Trap and Ramp Zone are different.

They are two different discoveries. Ramp Zone is the discovery within the Apollo discovery. It’s the deep zone of the Apollo discovery, with the nice added to it, is that even though it’s a deep zone, it has the possibility conceptually to have a ramp. And that’s why we are calling it the ‘Ramp Zone.’

That can surface further on in the lower part of the geography. So that’s the interesting part. Conceptually, we are seeing something very interesting in the future of the mine with Apollo.

Finance Colombia: It looks like it would be easy access, because you can potentially build a tunnel to go under, and so, even though the tunnel would be horizontal, the way that the geography is, I’ve been down there, it would allow a lot easier access. You know, I was out at the last big project you guys developed a few years ago, and it was very difficult to get to. On the other hand, in this project, down near Supía, Caldas, there’s already road infrastructure, it’s a more populated area, it’s a developed area, it’s a safe area, it’s in Coffee Country. And one of the things I wanted to talk about is, you guys have historically had very good relationships. I remember during the previous administration I talked to the then Mayor of Supía, Caldas.

“We communicated a couple of weeks ago that we found a high-grade zone and something like 1,000 meters below the surface, which is very interesting.” – Omar Ossma

Omar Ossma: Yes.

Finance Colombia: And he was very glowing in discussing the way that you all were contributing to that area, as far as helping them, not just with mining, which, that’s always been a mining-friendly area, but in developing tourism and kind of social inclusion. And maybe you could talk about some of those projects and the relationships that you’ve built there in the area.

Omar Ossma: In principle for us juniors, geology sets the way.

And I think that geology has already helped us set the path into a very interesting development. Now, you can’t do that if you are not evaluating and evolving also into the social aspect of it. I know you visited our project under a different administration. In that time the Mayor, I know we had a very good relationship with him, we were supporting several of his programs, and several of our programs were focused more on what the community needed. And when we say ‘the community needed’ is what the government at that time had envisioned for the municipality. So we managed to sync our capabilities with the needs of the communities, and that’s how we started to work on the social side. Things have changed. In what way? Things have changed in that we have a new government in Office. With this government in Office, we have also been able to understand and sync ourselves into what he wants to do for the region. So, as you portrayed, when you talked to that Mayor.

He showed you that he was very hype because we were able to sync. That’s what we’re doing with this new government. This business is obviously about geology, but the geology without the social aspect about it, without the sustainability aspect about it, is not going to evolve. We have several programs. You said it yourself, we are in Coffee Country. We have one of the leaders in coffee helping us with an alliance. This is the National Coffee Federation.

We still maintain an alliance with the National Coffee Federation. It’s been instrumental in what Collective Mining is doing in the region. And I think that that’s part of the success: geology, plus a very sound sustainability program, with the major players and stakeholders in the region: the Coffee Federation; the government; the regional and local governments. And that, summed up, has allowed us to be in 2024 with Ramp Zone, with Apollo, with the Trap, and with a very, very exciting discovery.

Finance Colombia: One of the things I saw that struck me when I visited the site a lot of times, and not just in Colombia, but around the world, there’s a conflict between commercial miners and artisanal miners. But with you guys, I’ve seen that you’ve had a track record of success in this area. We visited the site that you guys have, the Apollo site, and these artisanal miners, local miners are waving at you and saying ‘hi’ and greeting. And you guys have seemed to and very few mines, I haven’t seen a lot of this- have worked to have a kind of collaborative and friendly relations, whereas in most cases there’s kind of a conflict or competition. How have you guys managed to maintain these relationships and kind of build alliances with these old- you know, because in Colombia we have hundreds of years of tradition when it comes to artisanal miners? How have you guys managed to obtain that?

            “Experience has taught us that artisanal miners are, in principle, the pioneer geologists.” – Omar Ossma

Omar Ossma: No? They are the first on-site, they are the first to identify what you see. So, they are not your counterpart, they are your ally.

You need to understand that. Usually, companies tend to feel that they have more competition with the artisanals than the possibility of alliances. We arrive at the site and we understand that they are pioneers and that they help us discover. Understanding that you need to involve them in your process. They’re already there, and they have economic expectations, they live from that, so it is important to be able to involve them. That has legal aspects, environmental aspects, health and safety aspects.

That makes it a bit uncomfortable for companies. When you manage to understand that there are ways to control those different aspects, you manage to evolve and work with the artisanal miners. What is our focus on artisanal mining? For starters, health and safety.

That’s our focus. I know that there’s a lot of legal jargon and ideas around it, but we need the artisanal miners to arrive safely at home, and we focus first on health and safety. And I think that they’re seeing that we are genuinely concerned about their safety, and that’s what you eventually saw at sight: It’s they are happy that there is somebody that is not putting conditions on them and first is trying to help them and try to make them safe and arrive. Once you have them safe, you can start talking about other necessary things, that you need to be in the legal part of the mining activity. We already solved the fact that you are operating in a better condition, so now let’s go and talk with the government and understand how we can liaise, how can you guys start working with all the legal requirements, and let’s power through. And for us, it has been instrumental moreover, that they are close to our discoveries, and with what they are also discovering, they help us see. So, there is a win-win in working with the artisans.

Finance Colombia: Another thing. And thank you, you’ve been very generous with your time, but I do have one other question. One of the things that- or observation, I guess I should say, that has impressed me: You guys have an international world-class team where you bring in the experts, the geologists, the finance people, the people that have access to capital markets and things like that. But you guys have stood out in developing Colombian talent. You, as the leader of the company, you’re Colombian.

Omar Ossma: Yes, sir.

Finance Colombia: I know that you also have a lot of companies that just fly in executives from other continents, or wherever, and there’s nothing wrong with that, you are bringing the best people that you can get. But you have not just, you know, you visit some mines, and it’s like, all the workers are locals, and then all the experts are from, you know, some other planet.

But I look at the geologists, and even though you bring in kind of world-class leaders, you develop Colombian geologists. So you know, we just saw a presentation from your technical people, and I’ve met a lot of not just senior people, but it looks like you put an effort in to develop, whether it’s on the business side or the technical side, you are developing talent. So it’s not just the workers, it’s not just the miners, but the actual leadership and the knowledge, the brain power. You seem to take seriously developing Colombians to be professionals, not just laborers.

Omar Ossma: No, indeed I appreciate the comment, for myself and the team. We have an advantage: Colombia has evolved in the last 25 years a lot.

I started in this business something close to 2008, so it’s been almost 17 years, and I can tell you that in 2008 you saw a lot of what you are describing, a lot of foreigners with a lot of experience in developing businesses, and we didn’t see that in Colombia. But it has evolved. It’s been 17 years since we’ve had people evolving into this business.

I am a lawyer, I started in this business 17 years ago, as we’re saying, and I’ve managed to learn a lot about the business. And I think it’s not just me, we are seeing that in several other companies and we have to start grasping the fact and the idea that we have very prepared people. Our discoveries are the result of our geologists. And they’re all Colombian. So it makes us very proud to be able to have that, and our geologists are very proud of what they’re doing and they put all into it. We have a very, very good team. And we all, most of us, come from past Continental. And Continental was an exciting project and it was a successful project. So there’s a lot that we learned there, a lot that we brought into Collective, the good and the bad, to understand what we had to do going into the future. So I appreciate your comment, Loren.

Finance Colombia: Absolutely.

In 2023, Collective Mining significantly increased its social investments, contributing over $280,000 independently and $822,944 in partnership with strategic collaborators. The funds were allocated to community projects, aqueduct enhancements, road construction, communal facility improvements, agricultural initiatives, and support for women entrepreneurs, benefiting over 1,700 individuals.

Key Highlights from the 2023 Sustainability Report

• Safety Record: The company reported a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of 0, concluding 2023 with 710 days without lost time incidents.
• Environmental Initiatives: Collective Mining planted 1,900 seedlings to protect areas near water sources, with a focus on supporting local aqueducts.
• Carbon Neutrality: The company conducted its second carbon footprint assessment and achieved carbon neutrality by purchasing 700 offset credits from the “Delfines Cupica REDD+” conservation project.

Omar Ossma, President and CEO of Collective Mining, commented, “Integrating our sustainability initiatives early into our operations builds a strong foundation in our host region, which will support the success of our mining project.”

The full Sustainability Report is available on the company’s website at www.collectivemining.com under the Sustainability section.

About Collective Mining Ltd.

Collective Mining Ltd., founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining, is an exploration company focusing on copper, silver, gold, and tungsten projects in Caldas, Colombia. The company holds options to acquire 100% interests in two projects within an established mining camp with ten fully permitted and operating mines.

The flagship project, Guayabales, is centered on the Apollo system, known for its large-scale, bulk-tonnage, high-grade copper-silver-gold-tungsten porphyry. In 2024, the company aims to expand the Apollo system, explore the Trap system, and pursue new discoveries at the Tower, X, or Plutus targets.

Management, insiders, a strategic investor, and close family and friends own nearly 50% of the company’s outstanding shares, aligning their interests with shareholders. Collective Mining is listed on the NYSE and TSX under the trading symbol “CNL” and on the FSE under the symbol “GG1

The program, which was designed to strengthen the capacity of rural women from the towns of Marmato and Supía in the department of Caldas, provides educational training programs in a variety of professions, including community tourism and textile apparel design and management.

“We hope to continue with the training and improvement of human talent in the region and that these programs can continue to contribute to better opportunities in the labor market,” said Óscar Andrés Maldonado, director of SENA in Caldas.

“This agreement with Collective Mining contributes to the growth and development of the regional economy,” added Maldonado.

Omar Ossma, chief executive officer of Collective Mining, said that promoting local employment is a key pillar of the company’s development goals.

“Working in alliance with SENA on this initiative is proving to be a winning combination with the graduating students from Supía and Marmato being the main benefactors,” said Ossma. “As our Guayabales project advances, so too will our efforts to leave a positive lasting mark on the communities in which we operate.”

Photo: Graduation event in rural area of Marmato, Caldas, for participants in the the strategic alliance program offered by Collective Mining and SENA. (Photo credit: Collective Mining)

The township of Marmato, which is located in the Colombian department of Caldas, is one of the most historic and significant gold and silver mining regions in South America, with continuous production beginning more than 500 years ago. Collective Mining’s Guayabales project is located in Marmato, and has 10 fully permitted and operating mines located within a three kilometer radius of.

Since Collective Mining’s arrival to Marmato in 2020, the company says it has focused on aligning itself with the municipality’s development plan by cooperating with initiatives that are relevant for the community and the region, as determined by its inhabitants. These efforts have included the improvement of rural roads, providing technical proficiency to Marmato’s coffee growers, protecting local water sources, monitoring and improvement of the aqueducts in the municipality and establishing beekeeping projects.

“Collective is a company that listens to the communities and embraces the needs of our municipality. From day one, they have supported us in our development plan. We wish to highlight that the company always brings with it great respect for our communities. That is why, today, we can ratify this formal recognition proving it is possible to work hand in hand with a private company,” said Yesid Castro, Marmato’s mayor.

“Since our arrival to the region, our goal was to add value to local communities while advancing our efforts in making the next major discovery in Colombia. Since inception, our company has been committed to a “collective” approach to the development of projects, working alongside local government and communities to help develop our ESG initiatives. This recognition, coupled with our multiple geological discoveries are evidence that we are on the right track. We wish to express our gratitude to the local communities and to the mayor and his team for allowing us to bring value and work alongside the citizens of Marmato,” said Omar Ossma, Collective Mining’s President and CEO.