COPPER GIANT COMPLETES PRIOR CONSULTATION AGREEMENT WITH INGA CONDAGUA, SECURING FULL SOCIAL LICENSE AT MOCOA
COPPER GIANT COMPLETES PRIOR CONSULTATION AGREEMENT WITH INGA CONDAGUA, SECURING FULL SOCIAL LICENSE AT MOCOA |
[09-October-2025] |
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Copper Giant Resources Corp. ("Copper Giant" or the "Company") (TSXV: CGNT) (OTCQB: LBCMF) (FRA: 29H0) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Prior Consultation ("Consulta Previa") process with the Inga Condagua Indigenous Community ("Inga Condagua" or "Inga Condagua Nation"), coordinated by the National Directorate of Prior Consultation (DANCP) of the Ministry of Interior. The Agreement represents a legally binding, government-validated milestone, reached through direct dialogue between Copper Giant and the Inga Condagua Nation, and marks the first time a major exploration-stage project in Colombia has completed a full Prior Consultation process. It ensures long-term certainty for ongoing activities at Mocoa, while strengthening a collaborative framework rooted in respect for self-determination, cultural preservation, and shared environmental stewardship. "This agreement was built directly between the Inga Condagua community and Copper Giant — without intermediaries — because both sides wanted to speak for themselves and begin a long-term relationship," said Thyana Álvarez, VP of Corporate Development and Country Manager for the Company in Colombia. "Through this consultation, we found shared priorities: protecting identity, language, and nature, to pass on their legacy to future generations. It reflects a shared commitment to build understanding and progress together over time." "With both Condagua and Montclar agreements now in place, the long-term foundations for Mocoa are set," said Ian Harris, President & CEO. "Completing a full Prior Consultation at the exploration stage removes a major hurdle early and strengthens our ability to move forward responsibly. These are the kinds of steps that make great projects possible — built on trust, dialogue, and doing things right from the start." Shared Outcomes and Commitments The Agreement reflects a mutual vision between the Inga Condagua Nation and Copper Giant to protect cultural identity, strengthen local capacities, and ensure that development in Mocoa advances in balance with nature. Rather than isolated obligations, these initiatives expand on priorities already embedded in Copper Giant's social and environmental programs-reinforcing shared values of learning, stewardship, and long-term well-being. Together, the parties agreed to implement, during 2026 and 2027, a series of initiatives that unite traditional knowledge with responsible project development:
These commitments are a transformational framework built on respect, transparency, and shared purpose. They embody the principle of Buen Vivir - living well in harmony with nature and community - while advancing Mocoa as a model for collaborative, responsible development. This framework aligns with Colombia's 2024 recognition of Indigenous nations as environmental authorities and the 2025 Decree 0488, empowering communities like the Inga Condagua to co-govern their lands, ensuring Mocoa's path respects both cultural heritage and national priorities. About the Consultation Process The consultation followed a 2022 review by the Ministry of Interior confirming the procedencia (applicability) of prior consultation for the Inga Condagua Nation, arising from legal questions to earlier certifications. A pre-consultation phase was carried out in second semester 2024, and in November the consultation phase was started by the approval and protocolization of the Route Methodology (Ruta Metodológica). The formal consultation ran in 2025, comprising 10 official sessions and more than 10 additional dialogue spaces, and concluded with protocolization of agreements on September 20, 2025. Proceedings were witnessed by the Ministry of Interior (DANCP), the Mocoa Mayor's Office, Corpoamazonia, and the National Mining Agency, among others. From pre-consultation to protocolization, the process was completed in under a year — a notably efficient timeline for Colombia. Early in pre-consultation, Condagua and Copper Giant agreed to conduct the dialogue directly, without intermediaries. Both parties chose to speak for themselves to establish a long-term relationship grounded in trust and shared responsibility for the land. The process for Copper Giant was led by Country Manager Thyana Álvarez, whose leadership in responsible mining engagement has been recognized by Semana magazine in 2024 ("Most Influential Women of Colombia") and again in 2025 ("Women of High Corporate Impact"). This direct, face-to-face model — rare at the exploration stage — helped the parties identify shared priorities and move efficiently to a legally binding agreement. The protocolized outcomes outline joint initiatives (2026–2027) that protect cultural identity, language, and nature while creating opportunities for future generations — establishing a durable framework to guide continued work at Mocoa. Why It Matters - Early, Lawful Partnership That Clears the Path The Agreement with the Inga Condagua Nation is authoritative because, under Colombia's intercultural framework and ILO-169, only Condagua may represent itself. This provides clear, lawful guidance for how Mocoa advances: a jointly defined framework that aligns cultural protection (identity, language, and nature) with opportunities for future generations, and that supports the continued progression of permitted technical work. This approach has practical force. As a recent example, in September 2025 the Third Civil Court of Mocoa (the "Court") suspended Resolution 0631 after finding procedural faults in prior consultation—including tutelas filed by the Inga Condagua Nation. While Copper Giant previously clarified (June 25, 2025) that 0631 did not apply to its existing titles and permitted activities, the Court's decision underscores why direct, lawful consultation with the rightful authority matters. Statements by third parties do not supersede decisions made by Condagua through the Agreement. The Agreement also complements Copper Giant's Monclar community agreement (see news release November 29, 2022), together anchoring relationships with the two most relevant local constituencies. Consistent with our Good Neighbor philosophy and values of Respect and Responsibility, these partnerships de-risk the social and legal pathway for ongoing studies and future decision-making. This milestone builds on Copper Giant's growing national recognition. For the second consecutive year, the Company's Colombian subsidiary, Libero Cobre LTDA, was ranked among the Top 15 companies with the best reputation among government officials in the 2025 edition of Brújula Minera — the country's most influential annual study on mining-sector reputation, led by the Centro Nacional de Consultoría, Jaime Arteaga & Asociados, and the Asociación Colombiana de Minería (ACM). What makes this distinction exceptional is that every other company in the ranking is an active producer in Colombia across coal, gold, nickel, or cement. The only other non-producing company, AngloGold Ashanti, is a multi-billion-dollar global operator. By contrast, Copper Giant (Libero Cobre in Colombia) — still in the exploration and project-development stage — has earned its place through transparency, responsible engagement, and early trust-building with authorities and local communities. This independent validation reinforces Copper Giant's credibility and strengthens confidence in its ability to advance Mocoa as one of Latin America's largest undeveloped copper resources —responsibly, efficiently, and in partnership with Colombia's institutions and people. About Copper Giant Copper Giant Resources Corp. is part of the Fiore Group, a private and well-established Canadian organization known for building successful, high-impact companies across the natural resource sector. Copper Giant was formed with a singular focus: to advance high-quality copper projects beyond resource definition—responsibly, efficiently, and with long-term positive impact. The Company is led by a team with uncommon experience, having successfully taken some of the few major copper mines developed in the past two decades from discovery through to construction. Copper Giant's current focus is the Mocoa copper-molybdenum deposit in southern Colombia, one of the largest undeveloped resources of its kind in the Americas. Recent exploration success has revealed potential well beyond its original footprint, highlighting Mocoa as a broader district-scale opportunity—and the catalyst for the Company's name and evolution. Guided by the values of respect and responsibility, and grounded in its Good Neighbor philosophy, Copper Giant is committed to creating enduring values for all stakeholders and playing a meaningful role in the global energy transition. Neither the 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 release. This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the successful implementation and the long-term outcome and effects of the Agreement with the Inga Condagua Nation, metallurgical results, the outcome of the Company's current resource expansion strategy; other activities and achievements of the Company, including but not limited to: the timing and success for the advancement of the Mocoa Project, the expansion of the Mocoa resource base; are to be considered forward looking. Although Copper Giant believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices and volatility with the Company's common shares, exploitation and exploration successes, uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates, risks of not achieving production, continued availability of capital and financing, processes, permits and filing requirements, risks related to operations in foreign and developing countries and compliance with foreign laws and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements in Colombia, and general economic, market, political or business conditions and regulatory and administrative approvals. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements SOURCE COPPER GIANT RESOURCES CORP. | ||
Company Codes: OTC-QB:LBCMF,Frankfurt:29H0,TorontoVE:CGNT,TorontoVE:LBC,OTC-BB:LBCMF,OTC-PINK:LBCMF,OTCQB:LBCMF |