Trilogy Metals Provides Update on President Trump's Executive Orders and Actions by Department of Interior Aimed at Advancing the Ambler Access Project in Alaska

Rhea-AI Summary

Trilogy Metals (TSX/NYSE: TMQ) reports significant developments for the Ambler Access Project in Alaska. President Trump signed executive orders in January and March 2025 aimed at advancing the 211-mile industrial road project, which would connect the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects to the Dalton Highway.

The orders focus on revoking previous restrictions and reinstating the 2020 right-of-way permit for the Ambler Road. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued supporting orders, including Order 3422, directing expedited permitting for energy and natural resource projects in Alaska. The Bureau of Land Management will work towards partial revocation of public land withdrawals to facilitate the road's development.

Notably, the Kobuk Tribal Council passed a resolution supporting the road on March 11, 2025, acknowledging potential local jobs and economic benefits while preserving traditional subsistence lifestyle. The project aims to enable development of copper-dominant polymetallic deposits in the Ambler Mining District.

Positive

• Presidential executive orders reinstate important right-of-way permit for the Ambler Road
• Local tribal council support increases project's social license to operate
• Federal policy changes streamline permitting process for project development
• BLM actions to revoke land withdrawals will facilitate road construction

Negative

• Project still requires final approvals and permits despite executive orders
• Previous regulatory challenges could indicate potential future opposition

Insights

Mining Industry Expert

The regulatory breakthrough for the Ambler Access Project represents a critical infrastructure development for Trilogy Metals. This 211-mile industrial road is not merely a transportation corridor—it's the lifeline that would unlock access to the copper-rich Ambler Mining District where Trilogy holds significant assets.

The Ambler Mining District contains copper-dominant polymetallic deposits that have remained stranded due to access challenges. For mining operations, infrastructure access often represents the difference between a valuable resource and an economically stranded asset. Without this road, Trilogy's mineral resources remain effectively landlocked, regardless of their grade or tonnage.

The Kobuk Tribal Council's support is particularly significant. Indigenous opposition has historically been a major obstacle for mining projects across North America. This resolution indicates potential for a social license to operate—often more challenging to secure than regulatory approvals themselves. Their acknowledgment that mining can coexist with traditional subsistence activities represents a crucial vote of confidence.

The timing aligns perfectly with global copper supply concerns. As one of the minerals specifically mentioned in the executive order, copper's status as both a critical and strategic metal places Trilogy's assets in a favorable position. The executive orders specifically prioritizing expedited approvals for mineral production directly addresses the regulatory hurdles that have historically plagued U.S. mining development.

Regulatory Policy Expert

The executive actions described represent a comprehensive regulatory reset for the Ambler Road project. President Trump's January executive order explicitly places a moratorium on activities related to the prior rejection of the right-of-way permit and directs reinstatement of the 2020 approval—effectively reversing the regulatory blockade imposed by the previous administration.

The subsequent March 20th executive order on American Mineral Production provides additional regulatory momentum, as it creates a government-wide mandate to expedite approvals for critical mineral projects. This multi-pronged approach—addressing both the specific Ambler Road permit and the broader mineral development framework—creates a favorable regulatory environment for Trilogy's projects.

Secretary Burgum's announcement regarding partial revocation of public land withdrawals to convey lands to Alaska represents another significant regulatory development. Such land transfers typically streamline permitting as state-level approvals often move more quickly than federal processes. This could potentially accelerate the timeline for road development.

The bipartisan political support from Alaska's congressional delegation (Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, and Representative Begich) provides important political insulation for the project. When all of a state's federal representatives support a development, it significantly reduces the risk of political opposition slowing or derailing the permitting process. The unanimous support from Alaska's federal delegation creates a powerful political alliance for advancing the project through remaining regulatory hurdles.

VANCOUVER, BC, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSX: TMQ) (NYSE American: TMQ) ("Trilogy Metals", "Trilogy" or "the Company") is providing an update on the Ambler Access Project (the "Ambler Road") - the proposed 211-mile, industrial-use-only road from the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects to the Dalton Highway that would enable the advancement of exploration and development at the Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska, home to some of the world's richest known copper-dominant polymetallic deposits.

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed a comprehensive executive order titled "Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential", instructing agency heads across the federal government to revoke, rescind or revise regulations that are inconsistent with resource development in Alaska, including those issued by former President Joe Biden when he was in office.

It places a moratorium on all activities related to the rejection of a right-of-way permit to build the Ambler Road and directs the reinstatement of the prior Trump Administration's 2020 approval of the right-of-way permit to build the Ambler Road.

The order was broadly welcomed by Alaska's political leaders, including Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Representative Nick Begich.

Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum subsequently signed a series of secretarial orders, echoing the executive orders signed by President Trump. Secretary Burgum's Order 3422 on February 3, 2025, also titled "Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential", directs the submission of an action plan to him that includes "steps to expedite the permitting and leasing of energy and natural resource projects in Alaska (including the rights-of-way and easements for roads that enable this development to occur)."

On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production", which underscores the importance of securing a stable and predictable domestic supply of critical minerals (including copper and gold) that are essential for the nation's defense, technology, and infrastructure, and to reduce the reliance on foreign imports. The order directs federal agencies to expedite approvals for mineral production projects.

Also on March 20, 2025, Secretary Burgum announced that the Bureau of Land Management will work towards partial revocation of public land withdrawals to convey these lands to the State of Alaska. This action is expected to help advance the Ambler Road.

Secretary Burgum's announcement was commended by Alaska Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, and Representative Begich in a joint statement on March 20, 2025.

Tony Giardini, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trilogy Metals, commented, "Recent actions taken by President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signal a positive path forward for the Ambler Road. This transportation corridor is crucial not only for providing access to the minerals that are vital to U.S. national security and prosperity, but also for much-needed economic growth and job creation in Alaska. Trilogy Metals is committed to working with all stakeholders on progressing the road, to unlock the vast natural resource potential of the Ambler Mining District."

Resolution in Support of the Ambler Road has been Passed by Alaskan Tribal Council

On March 11, 2025, the Kobuk Tribal Council, on behalf of the community of Kobuk – one of the communities located close to the proposed Ambler Road, passed a resolution in support of the road. The tribal council acknowledges that the road could provide local jobs and economic benefits to the community while safeguarding a traditional subsistence lifestyle.

"We have been studying this project since it was announced. The conversations about subsistence, the cost of living, and jobs for our youth are important to us as we look to the future of the region as Red Dog winds down and our people need work to remain in our villages," said Henry Horner Sr., President of the Kobuk Tribal Council, in the March 21, 2025 announcement of the resolution by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA"). The full resolution and announcement are available on AIDEA's website at aidea.org.

About Trilogy Metals

Trilogy Metals Inc. is a metal exploration and development company holding a 50 percent interest in Ambler Metals LLC, which has a 100 percent interest in the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects in northwestern Alaska. On December 19, 2019, South32, a globally diversified mining and metals company, exercised its option to form a 50/50 joint venture with Trilogy. The UKMP is located within the Ambler Mining District which is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high-grade copper and cobalt mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler Mining District – the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within a land package that spans approximately 190,929 hectares. Ambler Metals has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., an Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler Mining District in cooperation with local communities. Trilogy's vision is to develop the Ambler Mining District into a premier North American copper producer while protecting and respecting subsistence livelihoods.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, the effects of the executive order described above, potential actions resulting from the executive orders and statements from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, planned activities at the UKMP, perceived merit of the properties and the Ambler Road, support from the Alaskan Tribal Councils, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the uncertainties involving the outcome of pending litigation, success of exploration activities, permitting timelines, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services, uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests, unexpected cost increases and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2024 filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other Company reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

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SOURCE Trilogy Metals Inc.

FAQ

What is the significance of Trump's executive orders for TMQ's Ambler Road project?

The orders reinstate the 2020 right-of-way permit and direct federal agencies to expedite approvals for the 211-mile industrial road, important for accessing TMQ's mineral deposits.

How long is the proposed Ambler Road and what is its purpose for TMQ?

The Ambler Road is a 211-mile industrial-use-only road connecting the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects to the Dalton Highway, enabling access to copper-rich deposits.

What was the Kobuk Tribal Council's March 2025 decision regarding TMQ's Ambler Road?

The Council passed a resolution supporting the road, recognizing its potential for local jobs and economic benefits while maintaining traditional lifestyles.

What specific actions did Interior Secretary Burgum take for TMQ's Ambler Road in 2025?

Burgum issued Order 3422 to expedite permitting and directed BLM to work on revoking public land withdrawals to advance the road project.