This request provides the Company with a clear opportunity to strengthen the application and ensure full alignment with the latest regulatory requirements under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 and remains fully committed to advancing the Hautalampi project in line with the highest environmental and ESG standards.

“The zoning approval marks another step forward and reinforces the viability of the Hautalampi project. The approval also significantly de-risks the project. We are especially encouraged by the strong local support, which reflects the trust we’ve built through our commitment to transparency, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development. The approval is an important step in delivering long-term value to our shareholders while contributing to Europe’s secure and responsible supply of critical raw materials,” says Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.

The City Council of Outokumpu held a plenary on Monday 26 late in the afternoon, where they approved the zoning plan which had been submitted by the City Board. There is a 30-day appeal time for the City Council decision.

This approval marks the final step in the zoning process and grants Eurobattery Minerals, through its subsidiary FinnCobalt Oy, the necessary framework for building permits. The decision underscores strong local support for the project and confirms Hautalampi’s alignment with the city’s development goals and Finland’s commitment to sustainable mining.

“We are very pleased with the City Council’s decision, which not only strengthens the foundation for our future operations but also demonstrates clear local support for responsible mining. The approved zoning is now fully aligned with Finland’s updated Mining Act and brings us another step closer to developing a sustainable, domestic source of battery minerals for Europe,” says Ilari Kinnunen, Managing Director of FinnCobalt.

“Outokumpu has a proud mining heritage, and the Hautalampi project represents a modern continuation of that tradition. This zoning proposal supports local vitality and economic development, while also reflecting a strong commitment to environmentally responsible and sustainable mining,” says Päivi Lintumäki, Mayor of the City of Outokumpu.

This week, the City Board of Outokumpu reviewed the detailed zoning plan for the Hautalampi battery mineral project, owned by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, FinnCobalt Oy. The zoning proposal covers a total of 309 hectares, including 277 hectares within the legally approved mining concession area. The plan has already passed earlier procedural stages, including public consultation and stakeholder review, and now progresses toward final approval.

“The City Board’s zoning proposal is more than a step forward—it represents strong support from the City of Outokumpu for the Hautalampi battery mineral project. While this zoning process will ultimately deliver us the building permits, it also provides a clear foundation for future mining operations in line with Finland’s updated Mining Act. Even though our current permit falls under the previous legislation, we fully welcome the transparency and structure this process brings,” says Ilari Kinnunen, Managing Director of FinnCobalt.

The zoning proposal has been submitted to the Outokumpu City Council for final approval.

Under the terms of the MoU, the parties will evaluate the possibility of processing 100% of the nickel-cobalt concentrate produced at FinnCobalt´s Hautalampi concentrator at Terrafame´s site. The initiative marks a step forward in both companies’ commitment to advancing responsible and efficient processing of critical battery minerals. The program is set to be finalized before the end of 2026.

“By locking in partnerships with leading industry players like Terrafame, we not only safeguard against market fluctuations but also reinforce our role in delivering critical battery materials responsibly and sustainably. This program with Terrafame will lay the foundations for a framework from which we then can secure a robust offtake agreement for nickel and cobalt, which is pivotal for our growth, ensuring stable demand and strengthening our financing foundation,” said Roberto García Martinez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.

Terrafame is a Finnish mining and chemical company founded in 2015 that owns the Europe’s largest nickel mine, metal factory and a factory for battery chemicals in Sotkamo. The Finnish state owns the majority of the company. Terrafame produces low-carbon battery chemicals for the global EV industry, with one of the world’s largest nickel sulphate plants capable of supplying materials for about 1 million electric vehicles annually. Its integrated, energy-efficient production process ensures a traceable and sustainable European supply chain.

“This MoU with Terrafame reflects our shared ambition to unlock the value of responsibly sourced battery minerals and strengthen domestic processing capabilities within Europe,” said Ilari Kinnunen, Managing Director of FinnCobalt.

This MoU highlights the Strategic Collaboration between the parties the intention to co-develop a refining program for the Hautalampi nickel-cobalt concentrate, targeting synergies between FinnCobalt´s planned production and Terrafame´s operational capabilities. The projected annual output from the Hautalampi project is approximately 1,300 tons of nickel and 400 tons of cobalt in concentrated form.

This collaboration supports the broader goal of establishing more sustainable and localized supply chains for critical raw materials essential to the green transition in Finland and Europe.

About Terrafame
Terrafame enhances low-carbon mobility by delivering responsibly produced battery chemicals to the global battery industry. One of the world’s largest production lines for chemicals used in electric vehicle batteries is located on Terrafame’s industrial site. The plant is capable of producing nickel sulphate for around 1 million EVs per year. The carbon footprint of the nickel sulphate produced by Terrafame is among the smallest in the industry.
Terrafame’s integrated, unique and energy-efficient production process from the mine to battery chemicals is located on a single industrial site. It provides customers with a transparent, traceable and truly European battery chemical supply chain.
Terrafame Ltd was founded in 2015. Its net sales in 2024 were EUR 544.5 million. Around 2,000 people work on its industrial site regularly, approximately 1,200 of whom are employees of partner companies.

The rock formations in these areas are Outokumpu-type rock assembles, which are known to contain copper, cobalt, zinc, nickel, silver, and gold (Cu-Co-Zn-Ni-Ag-Au).

“We are delighted that, after a rigorous review process dating back to 2020, the authorities have finally granted us the new exploration permits for the Hietajärvi and Saramäki mineralisations. This decision not only strengthens Eurobattery Minerals’ project pipeline, but also reinforces Europe’s strategic autonomy in critical raw materials, supporting the energy transition, digitalization, and defence industries. We look forward to delivering concrete results in the field and creating value for our shareholders as we move toward,” said Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.

The Saramäki mineralisation was discovered in 1967 by Outokumpu Oyj and it is located in Polvijärvi, Eastern Finland. It lies approximately 40 km away from Outokumpu town, where our Hautalampi battery mineral project is located. Co/Ni ratios of the mineralisation and historical exploration work clearly indicate that the Saramäki is an undoubted example of an Outokumpu-type mixed hydrothermal mineralisation system with massive-semimassive and disseminated sulphides. A non-compliant historical resource estimate calculations have been made for the Saramäki mineralisation and it could contain the amounts stated below.

Calculation Saramäki year 1980
A non-compliant historical resource estimate: 3.4 Mt @ Cu 0.71%; Zn 0.63%; Co 0.086%; Ni 0.05%; Fe 17.87%; S 12.39%. Cut-off 0.5% Cu
UNFC Classification Class 334: Cu 24,140t; Co 2,924t; Zn 21,420t; Ni 1,700t; S 421,260t; Fe 607,580t.

“Securing these exploration permits is great news for FinnCobalt and Eurobattery Minerals. We can now apply modern geophysical surveys and targeted drilling in these areas, advancing our understanding of its polymetallic potential and laying the groundwork for resource definition” said Kalle Penttilä, Project Geologist at the Hautalampi battery mineral project in Outokumpu.

The Hietajärvi mineralisation is documented to be an Outokumpu-type mixed hydrothermal system with massive and disseminated sulphides. Outokumpu Oyj investigated the region between 1955 and 1994 completing multiple exploration campaigns and pilot plant tests. Outokumpu Oyj ultimately defined a mineralised body consisting of two, nearly E-W trending sulphide lodes dipping 40-50°S. The lodes are 200 meters (E-lens) and 100 meters (W-lens) in length and have thicknesses varying between 3 meters and 20 meters. The prospect has seen little advanced exploration work completed at the prospect subsequent to Outokumpu Oyj.

Calculation Hietajärvi year 1994
A non-compliant historical resource estimate: 0.341Mt @ 0.15% Co; 0.7% Cu; 1.2% Zn; 0.18% Ni (2.33% CuEq)
UNFC Classification Class 334: Co 512t, Cu 2421t, Zn 4126t, Ni 614t

Ilari Kinnunen, Managing Director of FinnCobalt, added: “These regions are well known to contain Outokumpu-type rock, famous for Cu-Co-Zn-Ni-Ag-Au. Both of these areas are very interesting and have the potential to become future polymetallic sources. In these times of geopolitical tensions and intense resource competition, these new mineralisation’s could be particularly relevant for Europe highlighting the copper criticality for the future.”

The Company announced that it had submitted the application for the ERMA Booster Call funding via its subsidiary FinnCobalt Oy (“FinnCobalt”) in a press release on 26 March 2025.

“The fact that we reached the second stage of the process highlights the relevance of our Hautalampi battery mineral project and our contribution to Europe’s green and secure future,” said Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals. “We are proud to be among the selected candidates in this second phase and already look forward to the next stage of the call.”

The ERMA Booster Call, one of Europe’s most competitive funding initiatives, offers up to €2.5 million per project to strengthen Europe’s raw materials resilience and competitiveness. The call targets innovative mining projects that are critical for securing Europe’s strategic autonomy in raw materials. Successful applicants will not only gain access to financial support but also to Europe’s largest network of industry leaders, expert guidance, and strategic partnerships.

Following the positive first-phase assessment, Eurobattery Minerals was invited to the next step of the evaluation process – a pitching session with a panel of internal and external experts. This session provides an opportunity to present the company’s strategic vision, project strengths, and commitment to sustainable resource development.

Ilari Kinnunen, Managing Director of FinnCobalt, added: “This recognition confirms the strong potential of Hautalampi to support Europe’s critical raw materials strategy. We are committed to advancing the project with the highest environmental and technical standards and this funding would be a great boost for ongoing projects.”

The Company will continue to inform the market about the progress in the different phases of the ERMA Booster Call 2025 via press releases.

The assessment report mainly highlights one aspect as to why the Company was not granted status as a Strategic Project and this is related to Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, and more concretely, to the reference documentation of the EIA. The EIA is the principal part of the Environmental Permit Application (EPA), which the Company submitted in April 2024. We are collaborating with the different Finnish authorities on local and state level throughout the whole EPA procedure.

“We are thankful for having received such a detailed and constructive assessment report from DG Grow about our CRMA application. Seeing that the main reason for rejection of our application was an aspect that we already have been working on for quite some time, made the decision about reapplying easier. According to us, these possible issues are being solved at this very moment, and we are ready to reapply as soon as the European Commission opens a new call. With the current geopolitical situation, Europe urgently needs more strategic projects to secure the supply of critical raw materials,” said Roberto García-Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.

The EPA supplement will be submitted in the upcoming months, which according to the Company should resolve the issues raised in the assessment report from the European Critical Raw Materials Board at Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG Grow), and which were related to the recommendations in the EIA reasoned conclusion.

“At FinnCobalt, we are committed to developing the Hautalampi project in full compliance with Finnish and EU environmental regulations and the highest ESG standards, ensuring sustainability through continuous monitoring, impact mitigation, and responsible resource management. We acknowledge the concerns raised in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and have already been working actively to address them through rigorous technical assessments and improved environmental planning,” said Ilari Kinnunen, Managing Director of FinnCobalt Oy.

In the above-mentioned assessment report, DG Grow also invites the Company to reapply at a future cut-off date of calls for Strategic Projects under the CRMA.

Our conclusion is that the criteria in question is/can be resolved and therefore Eurobattery Minerals will reapply for Strategic Project status, via our subsidiary FinnCobalt Oy, as soon as the European Commission announces a new cut-off date for calls. The Company will inform the stakeholders accordingly via another press release.

“Being recognized as one of the largest undeveloped projects for cobalt and copper in Scandinavia is a strong validation of the potential of our Hautalampi project. As we can see from these lists, we could be one of the most important players in Europe for these critical raw materials. As Europe pushes hard for greater raw material independence, responsibly sourced cobalt and copper will play a crucial role in the green transition. This recognition is a big boost for us and further strengthens our commitment to advancing Hautalampi and contributing to a sustainable European battery supply chain,” said Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.

Our calculations state that our confirmed mineral reserves of cobalt at Hautalampi are:

• Measured and indicated 9.3 Mt; with a metal content of 6,200 t cobalt.

And in addition to this:

• Inferred resources of 3.4 Mt; with a metal content of 1,640 t cobalt.

With these resources, according to the independent source, we currently have the fifth biggest cobalt reserves (Hautalampi deposit) in Scandinavia, measuring by cobalt metal content 7,840 t.

The same calculations for copper are: Measured and inferred 9.3 Mt; with a metal content of 17,700 t copper.

In addition to Hautalampi, we have the nearby exploration area Saramäki, where early-stage calculations have been made, and it could contain the amounts stated below (these Saramäki figures are shown on the GTK mineral deposit and exploration website):

Resources: 3.4 Mt @ Cu 0.71%, Zn 0.63%, Co 0.086%, Ni 0.05%, Fe 17.87%, S 12.39%
Reserves (UNFC Classification): Cu 24,140t, Co 2,924t, Zn 21,420t, Ni 1,700t, S 421,260t, Fe 607,580t

“With only the measured and inferred resources, we are high up on these lists of undeveloped projects. This independent recognition highlights the significance of the Hautalampi project in securing a responsible and local supply of cobalt and copper for Europe. With the current geopolitical situation, projects like ours could be absolutely vital for Europe´s strategic autonomy in critical raw materials,” said Ilari Kinnunen, Managing Director of FinnCobalt Oy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eurobattery Minerals and owner of the Hautalampi battery mineral project.

The list has been published by the premier weekly newsletter Rock Report, dedicated to delivering in-depth exploration news, mining visuals, and cutting-edge data analysis, which provides a comprehensive look at the latest developments in exploration, geology, and mining.

Please use the links below to see the source of this information (Rock Report on LinkedIn):
Cobalt
Copper

“Europe must take control of its raw material supply chains to secure a sustainable and competitive future. Eurobattery Minerals is proud to apply for the ERMA Booster Call 2025 via FinnCobalt, as it directly supports our mission to produce responsibly sourced battery minerals within Europe. With this funding, we can further accelerate our mining project and contribute to the EU’s strategic autonomy, security, and the green transition,” said Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.

Key highlights for ERMA Booster Call 2025:

• Funding opportunity – ERMA Booster Call offers up to EUR 2.5 million for mining, processing, and recycling projects essential to Europe’s critical raw materials supply chain.
• Supporting European strategic autonomy – This initiative aligns with Eurobattery Minerals’ mission to enhance sustainable and responsible mining in Europe, reducing dependency on imported raw materials.
• Scaling up innovation – The funding will accelerate the development of our battery mineral projects, supporting key European industries in the transition to clean energy and e-mobility.
• Access to a strong network – Participation in this program would provide expert guidance, strategic financing opportunities, and collaboration with Europe’s largest raw materials ecosystem.

Ilari Kinnunen, Managing Director at FinnCobalt said: “With the events we have seen playing out on the world scene during the last months, this funding initiative from ERMA couldn´t come at a better time. Europe has an extremely urgent need to secure critical raw materials – like nickel, cobalt, and copper – for the green transition, for clean energy, for security and defence, and for the jobs in the European industry. There is no time to lose to get new mines up and running in Europe.”

With the current geopolitical situation – and as the demand for responsibly sourced battery minerals grows – Eurobattery Minerals remains committed to playing a pivotal role in securing a sustainable European supply chain.

The EU Critical Raw Materials Act (“CRMA”) was approved in May 2024, and in August 2024, Eurobattery Minerals announced that we would apply to obtains status as a Strategic Project under the CRMA. In the evaluation carried out by the EU Commission and which results were published today, the Hautalampi Project was, to our knowledge, not selected as a strategic project in the first round. All concerned applicants of projects in the EU will be notified individually in the coming days with more details about the assessment results.

The EU Commission received a high number of applications in this first round, a total of approximately 170 applications. These projects relate to different parts of the value chain such as extraction, processing and recycling. Applications have also included a large number of different minerals that are considered strategic, including rare earth metals, lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt. As we mentioned earlier, the Company has not yet received a detailed justification for why the Hautalampi battery mineral project was not designated as strategic.

This is not a setback—it’s a step forward. While our Hautalampi project was not selected as a Strategic Project in this first round of the CRMA call, reaching this stage highlights its importance for Europe’s battery mineral supply. The need for responsibly sourced nickel, cobalt, and copper in Europe is undeniable, we hear about it in the news every day. And our commitment to delivering these critical minerals remains stronger than ever. We will continue our hard work with the same dedication,
strengthening our project and look how we can refine the application for future calls under the CRMA, said Roberto García-Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.

As soon as we receive the official communication from The Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), we will study the possible reasons for the rejection and refine the application for upcoming calls under the CRMA. It has been announced that further calls for Strategic Projects will be opened shortly. The Company will inform the market about possible new applications accordingly.