Mr. Charles Funk reports

HELIOSTAR SUBMITS ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR ANA PAULA

Heliostar Metals Ltd. has submitted key environmental permit applications for the Ana Paula underground project. These consist of an environmental impact statement (MIA-R) and an environmental risk study (ERA) submitted to the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).

Based on the MIA-R submission to construct an underground mine, the amount of proposed surface disturbance is reduced by approximately 65 per cent compared with the previously approved open pit mine plan. This is achieved by removing the open pit footprint, decreasing the size of the waste rock dump, reducing the size of the processing plant, adjusting its location, adopting dry-stack tailings designed to conform to industry-leading practices and using tailings as paste backfill for the underground.

Charles Funk, chief executive officer, comments: "The submission of this permit application is another key milestone towards a construction decision for Ana Paula. This process required bringing the existing permits into compliance and completing the design work for the upcoming feasibility study on the project. Heliostar is committed to meeting the high standards expected by our local communities, shareholders and those required by the Mexican government. This builds on our recent track record of both restarting and obtaining permits for mine life extensions at both of our currently operating mines. The Ana Paula construction decision is planned for mid-2027. A mine at Ana Paula is expected to create approximately 1,500 construction jobs initially, and the ongoing operation of that mine will create another 600 permanent positions, primarily sourced from our local area. We believe it also has the potential to drive a re-rating of the company's share price as we deliver a material step-up in Heliostar's production profile."

Qualified person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gregg Bush, PEng, chief operating officer of the company, who is a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar is a growing gold producer with a goal to produce 500,000 ounces per year by the end of the decade. The cash flow from the company's La Colorada mine in Sonora and the San Agustin mine in Durango supports the development of its 100-per-cent-owned pipeline of growth projects in Mexico and the United States. These include the flagship Ana Paula development project in Guerrero, the Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato, the San Antonio project in Baja California Sur, the Goldstrike project in Utah and the Unga project in Alaska.

We seek Safe Harbor.