Prestigious industry award

Solidcore Resources plc (“Solidcore” or the “Company”) was honored with the Golden Hephaestus Award for its outstanding ESG strategy.

Solidcore aims to broaden its asset portfolio and enhance green initiatives, both of which adhere to global standards. “This method aligns with local communities, the government, and investors and is greatly valued by the industry,” stated Dilyara Yedenbayeva, Director of Sustainable Development at Solidcore Resources.

The organization ranked first among the mining and metallurgical companies in Kazakhstan in the category “Best strategy for sustainable development (ESG).”

As part of the Golden Hephaestus Award nomination, Solidcore showcased its extensive long-term sustainability plan addressing industrial safety, employee involvement, external stakeholders, environmental conservation, and adaptation to climate change. A key emphasis of the ESG strategy is on the company’s environmental initiatives and sustainable climate roadmap, designed to effectively meet all defined strategic objectives and KPIs while significantly aiding in the realization of international decarbonization commitments made by Kazakhstan under the Strategy for Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2060.

Solidcore pays key attention to the following green projects:

— construction of an energy cluster at Varvarinsky, including a solar power plant with a capacity of 23 MW and a balancing gas-piston power plant with a capacity of up to 40 MW (construction, operational by late 2026);

— establishment of a solar power plant in Kyzyl with a capacity of 17 MW (design, the project will be presented for approval to the Board of Directors in 2025);

— a voluntary forest carbon project in Kostanay region covering 487 hectares (implementation and planting will extend until 2027) with the possibility of expansion to the Abai and Pavlodar regions;

— evaluation of low-emission mining machinery (electric conveyor systems for ore transport, electric and gas-diesel machinery).

These initiatives, along with ongoing efforts to enhance resource and energy efficiency, will enable Solidcore to cut its direct and indirect energy emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to the 2023 baseline, ensure complete energy security for its assets, and set the stage for future carbon neutrality.

Additional information regarding Solidcore’s sustainability strategy for the long term, along with the management of ESG factors and the Company’s objectives and initiatives, can be found in the integrated annual report for 2024 on the official website.

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Since 2010, the Golden Hephaestus Industry Competition has been taking place and is recognized as one of the most esteemed awards in Kazakhstan’s mining and metallurgical sector. Annually, the competition honors the top professionals in geology, mining, and metallurgy, along with staff from educational institutions and businesses, as well as journalists covering the sector. Comprehensive details regarding the award and the winners can be found on the website of the Contest.