Mr. James Walker reports

ARES STRATEGIC MINING ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF MAJOR PROCESSING PLANT INFRASTRUCTURE MILESTONES

Ares Strategic Mining Inc. has successfully completed two of the most critical infrastructure components at its Lost Sheep fluorspar processing facility in Utah: the installation of the plant's conveyor belt system and the completion of the facility's electrical and motor control centre (MCC) systems.

These milestones represent a major step forward in the company's transition from mine development into fully integrated processing operations and significantly advance the plant toward commissioning and production readiness.

Critical systems now installed

The newly completed infrastructure includes:

• Full installation of the plant's primary material handling and conveyor belt systems;
• Completion of the facility-wide electrical distribution network;
• Installation and integration of the plant's MCC systems;
• Energization-ready infrastructure to support crushers, screens, flotation circuits, pumps and processing equipment.

The conveyor network forms the operational backbone of the processing facility, enabling the continuous and automated movement of ore between crushing, sorting and processing stages. Meanwhile, the MCC and electrical systems provide centralized power distribution, process control, equipment protection and operational automation throughout the plant.

MCC/electrical control systems

James Walker, president and chief executive officer of Ares Strategic Mining, commented: "The completion of the conveyor and MCC systems is one of the most important construction milestones we have achieved to date. These are not cosmetic additions -- they are the central nervous system of the processing facility. Without these systems, industrial-scale processing cannot occur. Their completion marks a huge leap toward operational readiness and future production."

A transformational milestone toward production

The completion of these systems substantially derisks the project and positions Ares to accelerate final mechanical installations and commissioning activities.

The MCC infrastructure is particularly significant because it:

• Controls and distributes power across the entire plant;
• Enables synchronized operation of processing equipment;
• Supports future automation and scalability;
• Provides industrial-grade operational reliability and safety.

Likewise, the conveyor system enables:

• Continuous ore flow throughout the facility;
• Efficient material handling and throughput;
• Reduced operating downtime and labour requirements;
• Consistent feed rates for optimized processing performance.

"You cannot operate a modern processing facility without these systems," Mr. Walker added. "This is foundational infrastructure -- the kind of progress that transforms a construction project into an operating industrial facility."

Plant construction progress overview

Building America's domestic fluorspar supply chain

Ares continues advancing toward becoming the leading domestic supplier of acidspar in the United States. Fluorspar is designated a critical mineral by the U.S. government and is essential for:

• Semiconductor manufacturing;
• Fluorochemicals;
• Nuclear fuel processing;
• Steel and aluminum production;
• Defence and aerospace applications.

With mining operations under way, ore stockpiling continuing and plant infrastructure nearing completion, the company is rapidly positioning itself for initial processing and future deliveries into domestic and international markets.

About Ares Strategic Mining Inc.

Ares Strategic Mining is a mining company focused on the development of its fluorspar projects in the United States. The company aims to become a significant supplier of high-grade fluorspar to North American markets, supporting industries vital to modern technology and infrastructure.

Lost Sheep fluorspar project -- Delta, Utah:

• 100 per cent owned -- 5,982 acres -- 353 claims;
• Located in the Spor Mountain area, Juab county, Utah, approximately 214 kilometres southwest of Salt Lake City;
• Fully permitted -- including mining permits;
• National Instrument 43-101 technical report identified extensive high-grade fluorspar with low levels of impurities;
• Mining plan approved by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) (1).

(1) First approved by Rex Rowley -- area manager, BLM -- Aug. 24, 1992; renewed by Paul B. Baker -- minerals program manager, BLM -- Dec. 12, 2016.

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