Valhalla Metals Welcomes Concrete Support for the Ambler Access Road from the Trump Administration

Rhea-AI Summary

Valhalla Metals (VMXXF) welcomes significant federal support for the Ambler Access Road development following two major announcements. President Trump signed an executive order on March 20, 2025, invoking emergency powers under the Defense Production Act to boost domestic mineral production and reduce foreign dependency.

The order includes provisions for streamlined permitting and financing support for critical metals projects. Simultaneously, the Department of Interior announced the revocation of public lands withdrawal to transfer lands to the State of Alaska, specifically affecting the first 20 miles of the Ambler Access Road along the Alaska Pipeline corridor.

The Ambler Access Road would cross Valhalla's Sun project state mining claims, potentially unlocking critical and strategic metals in the Ambler Mining District, including copper, zinc, silver, gold, cobalt, and germanium. These metals are deemed essential for green energy transition and securing domestic supply chains for economic and defense purposes.

Positive

• Federal government support through executive order streamlining permits and financing
• DOI approval for land transfer facilitating Ambler Road development
• Road infrastructure would unlock access to multiple valuable mineral deposits
• Project contains critical metals essential for green energy and defense sectors

Negative

• Project still requires additional permits and approvals
• Development timeline remains uncertain
• Infrastructure development costs not specified

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2025) - Valhalla Metals Inc. (TSXV: VMXX) (OTCQB: VMXXF) ("Valhalla" or the "Company") welcomes the recent announcements from White House and Department of Interior.

On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production", invoking emergency powers under the Defense Production Act to facilitate and elevate domestic mineral production as part of an effort to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign nations for its mineral supply.

The Executive Order lays out several provisions such as streamlined permitting and financing support for domestic critical metals projects. The order also emphasized the importance of developing domestic mineral production to the maximum possible extent for the United States national security. More specifically, federal agencies are directed to work with the Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) to "…. identify priority projects that can be immediately approved or for which permits can be immediately issued, and take all necessary or appropriate actions within the agency's authority to expedite and issue the relevant permits or approvals". The Executive Order also instructs the Department of Defense (DOD) to work with United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide financing for domestic critical mineral production projects.

Furthermore, in a press release dated March 20, 2025, the Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has taken additional and immediate steps to "…unleash Alaska's untapped natural resource potential and support President Donald J. Trump's vision of American Energy Dominance."

The action taken by the Department of Interior (DOI) includes the revocation of public lands withdrawal in order to convey these lands to State of Alaska that would help "…pave the way forward for the proposed Ambler Road…". These lands specifically refer to the first 20 miles of the Ambler Access Road located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) owned lands along the Alaska Pipeline corridor. These lands are also referred to "Public Land Order (PLO) 5150 Lands" that were deeded to the State of Alaska, but have remained under federal control.

Secretary Burgum stated: "It's time for the U.S. to embrace Alaska's abundant and largely untapped resources as a pathway to prosperity for the nation, including Alaskans."

Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, Chairman of Valhalla stated: "These are huge and important announcements of support from the Trump Administration for advancing development of an entire district of critical metals. As Alaskans know all too well, the Ambler mining district was first identified as hosting important quantities of copper, zinc, silver, gold, cobalt and germanium in the 1960s. It is high time that the federal government recognizes the importance of having a domestic supply of metals that are vital to our economy and our national defense, and is willing to take the actions necessary to achieve that objective. We look forward to working with the Trump Administration, the State of Alaska and most importantly local Alaska Native Corporations and Tribes to advance this remarkable opportunity."

The proposed Ambler Access Road is planned to cross Valhalla State mining claims at the Sun project and would unlock a host of critical and strategic metals located in the Ambler Mining District - all metals necessary for the green energy and transportation transition and to ensure a secure domestic supply chains for these metals important to our economy and defense.

For more details, the full executive order can be found here: Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production - The White House

For more details, the full DOI press release can be found here: Interior Secretary Takes Steps to Unleash Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential | U.S. Department of the Interior

About Valhalla Metals

Valhalla Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the advancement of its mineral projects towards feasibility. Valhalla's flagship project is the Sun copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver VMS projects located in Ambler Mining District, Northwest Alaska. The Company also owns the Smucker project, a high-quality copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver VMS project located in the Ambler Mining District, Northwest Alaska. Valhalla Metals Inc. shares trade on the TSX-V under the ticker symbol VMXX and OTCQB under the ticker symbol VMXXF. For more information about Valhalla, please visit our website at www.valhallametals.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

For more information on the Company, please contact Valhalla Metals Inc.

Sorin Posescu, Chief Executive Officer
Email: invest@valhallametals.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plan", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based, are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; and the additional risks identified in the annual information form of the Company or other reports and filings with the TSX-V and applicable Canadian securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245763

FAQ

What is the significance of Trump's executive order for VMXXF stock?

The order streamlines permitting and provides financing support for domestic critical metals projects, potentially accelerating Valhalla Metals' development in the Ambler Mining District.

How does the March 2025 DOI land transfer decision affect VMXXF's Ambler Road project?

The decision transfers the first 20 miles of BLM-owned lands along the Alaska Pipeline corridor to Alaska, facilitating the Ambler Road development that would access Valhalla's Sun project.

What critical metals does VMXXF's Ambler Mining District contain?

The district contains copper, zinc, silver, gold, cobalt, and germanium, essential for green energy transition and defense purposes.

How will the Ambler Access Road benefit VMXXF operations?

The road would cross Valhalla's Sun project claims, providing important infrastructure access to develop and transport minerals from the Ambler Mining District.