Wealth Minerals and the Quechua Indigenous Community of Ollague Sign Agreement to Jointly Develop the Kuska Lithium Project

Rhea-AI Summary

Wealth Minerals (WMLLF) and the Quechua Indigenous Community of Ollague (CIQO) have signed an agreement to form a joint venture for developing the Kuska Lithium Project. CIQO will receive a 5% free-carried interest and one of five director seats in the JV.

The Kuska Project, located in Chile's Ollague Salar, has 741,000 tons of indicated LCE resources (175 mg/L) and 701,000 tons of inferred resources (185 mg/L). A recent PEA outlined a 20,000 metric tpa LCE production with a 20-year mine life, projecting a Pre-Tax NPV10% of US$1.65 bn and 33% IRR.

The project was among six locations approved by Chile's Strategic Council for lithium development, prioritizing it to receive a special lithium operation contract (CEOL). This marks the first indigenous community-mining company partnership of its kind in Chile.

Positive

• Project has substantial lithium resources: 741,000 tons LCE indicated and 701,000 tons LCE inferred
• Strong economic indicators: Pre-Tax NPV10% of US$1.65 bn and 33% IRR
• Project approved by Chilean government for priority CEOL status
• Strategic partnership with local indigenous community reduces social risks

Negative

• 5% ownership dilution through indigenous community partnership

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 3, 2025) - Wealth Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: WML) (OTCQB: WMLLF) (SSE: WMLCL) (FSE: EJZN) (the "Company" or "Wealth") - and the Quechua Indigenous Community of Ollagüe ("CIQO"), collectively the "Parties", have agreed (the "Agreement") to form a joint venture company (the "JV") to develop the Kuska Lithium Project ("Kuska") on the territory of the Ollagüe Salar.

The Agreement considers that CIQO will make their best efforts to promptly work with the Wealth team to establish a Chilean legal entity to serve as the JV, and CIQO will own a 5% free-carried interest in the JV and have the right to one of five director seats on the Board of Directors of the JV. Both Wealth and CIQO believe this structure is the right balance to bring Kuska to production and ensure the highest standards of community participation and transparency. The Parties have also discussed the JV developing new projects in the CIQO general area of interest where there may be synergies with Kuska.

The Kuska Project is located in the Ollagüe Salar, Antofogasta region, northern Chile, and is presently 100% owned by Wealth Minerals and royalty-free. The maiden resource report published by Wealth Minerals Ltd. (see press release January 17, 2023 and Technical Report of January 13, 2023 "Estimated Lithium Resources Ollagüe Project" posted on SEDARPlus) estimates 741,000 tons Lithium Carbonate Equivalent ("LCE") indicated resources grading 175 mg/L (plus 701,000 tons LCE inferred resources grading 185 mg/L) with an average indicated lithium grade of 175mg/l. On January 4, 2024, Wealth announced the key highlights of a PEA produced by DRA Global Limited. The PEA describes the Kuska Project development towards a 20,000 metric tpa LCE output and an anticipated Life of Mine ("LOM") of 20 years. The Kuska Project in the PEA estimates a Pre-Tax NPV10% of US$1.65 bn and a 33% IRR. The PEA was filed on SEDARPlus on February 16, 2024.

On September 30, 2024, the Government of Chile announced that the Strategic Council of the Lithium and Salt Flats Committee ("Strategic Council") had approved a first group of six locations for the development of lithium projects in Chile, which included the Ollagüe Salar. The decision was based on all six locations having favorable conditions for the feasibility of a lithium operation. The decision of the Strategic Council means that Kuska will be prioritized to receive a special lithium operation contract ("CEOL") by the State of Chile (see press release of September 30, 2024).

Regarding the Agreement, Henk van Alphen, CEO of Wealth Minerals Ltd., commented: "We have been working on the base of this agreement for several years and we are confident that the only way to do mining is by effectively incorporating communities into the business and project activities. We plan to continue advancing the development of Kuska, indeed to now accelerate the pace, so that we can soon build a lithium production operation at Ollagüe."

For his part, Víctor Nina Huanca, President of the Quechua Indigenous Community of Ollagüe, indicates, "The association with Wealth Minerals for the Kuska project will allow the Community to be involved in the development of the project, making decisions and guiding the care and protection of the most vulnerable sectors of our territory, ensuring that everything is done with the highest standards. Respect for our worldview and the environment will be key to carrying out this process. We trust that we will be able to continue moving forward together for the good of Chile, the Antofagasta Region and the Community of Ollagüe. This JV initiative, the first of its kind in Chile, gives the Quechua Community of Ollagüe important leadership in the new development agenda of the indigenous peoples of Chile, in which the community acts empowered, directly managing its territory."

About Wealth Minerals Ltd.

Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests in Canada and Chile. The Company's focus is the acquisition and development of lithium projects in South America.

The Company opportunistically advances battery metal projects where it has a peer advantage in project selection and initial evaluation. Lithium market dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural issues with the industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wealth is positioning itself to be a major beneficiary of this future mismatch of supply and demand. In parallel with lithium market dynamics, Wealth believes other battery metals will benefit from similar industry trends.

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's website (www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

WEALTH MINERALS LTD.

"Hendrik van Alphen"
Hendrik van Alphen
Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:
Marla Ritchie, Michael Pound or Henk van Alphen
Phone: 604-331-0096 or 604-638-3886

For all Investor Relations inquiries, please contact:
John Liviakis
Liviakis Financial Communications Inc.
Phone: 415-389-4670

For all Public Relations inquiries, please contact:
Nancy Thompson
Vorticom, Inc.
Office: 212-532-2208 | Mobile: 917-371-4053

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Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the Company's expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral projects, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/239235

FAQ

What are the key economic metrics of WMLLF's Kuska Lithium Project according to the PEA?

According to the PEA, the Kuska Project has a Pre-Tax NPV10% of US$1.65 billion and a 33% IRR, with planned production of 20,000 metric tpa LCE over a 20-year mine life.

What is the resource estimate for WMLLF's Kuska Lithium Project?

The project has 741,000 tons of indicated LCE resources grading 175 mg/L and 701,000 tons of inferred LCE resources grading 185 mg/L.

What ownership stake will the Quechua Indigenous Community receive in WMLLF's Kuska Project?

The Quechua Indigenous Community of Ollague will receive a 5% free-carried interest in the joint venture and one of five director seats on the JV's Board of Directors.

What is the significance of the Chilean Strategic Council's approval for WMLLF's Kuska Project?

The approval prioritizes the Kuska Project to receive a special lithium operation contract (CEOL) from the Chilean government, facilitating its development as one of six approved lithium projects in the country.