ACLARA WINS UN GLOBAL COMPACT AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN CIRCULAR WATER MANAGEMENT Recognition highlights Aclara's industry-leading commitment to sustainability and innovative water practices aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals
ACLARA WINS UN GLOBAL COMPACT AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN CIRCULAR WATER
MANAGEMENT
Recognition highlights Aclara's industry-leading commitment to sustainability and innovative water
practices aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals
TORONTO, ON, December 11, 2024 – Aclara Resources Inc. (“Aclara” or the “Company”) (TSX: ARA) is proud
to announce that it has been recognized by the United Nations (“UN”) Global Compact Chile Network for its
groundbreaking Circular Mineral Harvesting process. The Company’s contribution to advancing the
Sustainable Development Goal (“SDG”) 6: Clean Water and Sanitation , was honored during the CONECTA
2024 Business Awards in Santiago, Chile, on December 10, 2024 , in which it received the third place in the
Interconnection category.
The award celebrates the innovative attributes of Aclara’s patented Circular Mineral Harvesting process,
implemented at the Penco project. This production process allows the sustainable extraction of rare earth
elements in a closed-circuit system, using 100% recycled water, eliminating reliance on natural water
sources, and achieving a 95% water recirculation rate. Among 166 submissions from 61 companies across
diverse industries, Aclara’s initiative stood out for its transformative approach to resource management, as
evaluated by a distinguished jury of 48 experts.
The United Nations Global Compact is a non -binding United Nations pact to get businesses and firms
worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation. The
UN Global Compact is the world's largest corpora te sustainability and corporate social responsibility
initiative, with more than 20,000 corporate participants and other stakeholders in over 167 countries.
Ramón Barúa, Aclara’s Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“At Aclara we are fully committed to sustainable water usage and sourcing, and this recognition highlights the
significance of our efforts. Our patented process, which eliminates the use of natural water sources and
recirculates nearly all the water used, sets a new benchmark for sustainability in the rare earths sector. This
honor, conferred by the United Nations through Pacto Global Chile, is especially meaningfu l as it was
conceptualized from a collaborative dialogue with the Penco community, who share our dedication to preserving
vital resources such as water.”
Margarita Ducci, Executive Director of Global Compact Chile, commented:
“Recognizing initiatives such as Aclara's Circular Harvest of Minerals is an example of the transformative impact
that companies can generate when they align their innovation with the SDGs. This process, unique in the world
and developed in Chile, represents a crucial advance in the circular econo my, enabling the sustainable
production of rare earths, essential for electromobility and clean energy.
Its model stands out not only for its efficiency in the use of resources such as water and fertilizer recycling, but
also for its commitment to biodiversity and local development, through its collaboration with communities and
universities. We applaud this example of leadership and congratulate Aclara for integrating sustainability into
the heart of its business strategy, showing that it is possible to innovate, protect the environment and contribute
to economic development simultaneously.”
Picture during the award ceremony including (from left to right) Violet Warnery (Representative for the United Nations Children's Fund in
Chile), Fernando Illanes (Social Value Manager of Aclara Chile), Margarita Ducci (Executive Director of Global Compact Chile), Ramón Barúa
(CEO of Aclara ), Florencia Fernandez (HR Manager of Aclara Chile ), Max Larraín (Legal Counsel of Aclara Chile ), Sebastián Rojas
(Sustainability Manager of Aclara Chile) and Fabio Bertranou (Director for the Southern Cone of Latin America of the International Labour
Organization).
This recognition adds to Aclara’s growing list of awards, including : (1) an honor in the Foreign Direct
Investment category at the Melhores dos Negócios Internacionais 2024 Awards, which celebrate
organizations that significantly enhance Brazil’s global standing in areas such as exports, sustainable
development, and foreign investment (organized by ApexBrasil, Ex ame, the Ministry of Development,
Industry, Commerce, and Services and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ); (2) two honors for Innovation and
Environmental Sustainability at the 2024 Global Data Mining Technology Excellence Awards; (3) recipient of
the Sustainable Innovation Award at the 2023 Business Sustainability Awards presented by the SEAL Awards;
and (4) designation as the Sustainable Initiative of the Year at the 2022 Business Intelligence Group
Sustainability Awards.
About Acara
Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX: ARA) is a development-stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth mineral
resources hosted in Ion-Adsorption Clay deposits. The Company’s rare earth mineral resource development
projects include the Penco Module in the Bio-Bio Region of Chile and the Carina Module in the State of Goiás,
Brazil.
Aclara's rare earth extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. Circular mineral
harvesting does not involve blasting, crushing, or milling, and therefore does not generate tailings and
eliminates the need for a tailings storage facility. The extraction process developed by Aclara minimizes
water consumption through high levels of water recirculation made possible by the inclusion of a water
treatment facility within its patented process design. The ionic clay feedstock is amenable to leaching with
a common fertilizer main reagent, ammonium sulfate. In addition to the development of the Penco Module
and the Carina Module, the Company will continue to identify and evaluate opportunities to increase future
production of heavy rare earths through greenfield exploration programs and the development of additional
projects within the Company's current concessions in Brazil, Chile, and Peru.
Aclara has decided to vertically integrate its rare earths concentrate production towards the manufacturing
of rare earths alloys. The Company has established a U.S.-based subsidiary, Aclara Technologies Inc., which
will focus on developing technologies for rare earth separation, metals, and alloys. Additionally, the Company
is advancing its metals and alloys business through a joint venture with CAP S.A., leveraging CAP’s extensive
expertise in metal refining and special ferro-alloyed steels.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward -looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities
legislation, which reflects the Company’s current expectations regarding future events, including statements
with regard to the Company’s water management strategy; expectations as to the production process feasibility,
which performs sustainable extraction of rare earth elements in a closed -circuit system, using 100% recycled
water, eliminating reliance on natural water sources, and achieving a 95% water recirculation rate . Forward -
looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties,
many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
the factors discussed und er “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual information form dated as of March 22,
2024 filed on the Company’s SEDAR profile. Actual results and timing could differ materially from those
projected herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward -looking information
contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not
undertake any obligation to update such forward -looking information, whether as a result o f new information,
future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws
For further information, please contact:
Ramón Barúa Costa
Chief Executive Officer