Forge Resources Advances La Estrella as Coal Prices Hold Strong and Colombia's New Government Reopens the Resource Sector
Forge Resources Advances La Estrella as
Coal Prices Hold Strong and Colombia's New
Government Reopens the Resource Sector
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 4, 2026) -
Forge Resources Corp.
(CSE:
FRG) (OTCQB: FRGGF) (FSE: 5YZ) ("
FRG
" or the "
Company
"), is pleased to provide an update on
two developments that strengthen the case for La Estrella project.
Benchmark coal prices remain well above long-run averages, and Colombia has a new government
administration that has made resource development an explicit priority. Forge enters the final months of
2026 with all three powerful and converging catalysts aligned in its favour.
Coal Market Fundamentals and Price Environment
Coal prices are currently trading at strong levels that underpin the economics of new and developing coal
assets worldwide (Figure 1). The Newcastle FOB thermal benchmark reached USD $146.60 per tonne
on 2 September 2026, a September high driven by robust global energy demand and persistent supply
risks, up roughly 11% over the month and approximately 35% year-on-year. Metallurgical coal has been
even stronger: the coking coal futures benchmark stood at USD $271.50 per tonne on the same date, a
gain of about 28% over the month and roughly 45% year-on-year. Together, these elevated thermal and
coking coal prices reflect a robust near-term market environment for producers.
Behind that pricing is a structural supply-demand imbalance with no near-term resolution in sight. Export
capacity from key producing jurisdictions remains constrained, while steel production across South and
Southeast Asia continues to absorb metallurgical coal, India in particular, where import requirements are
projected to grow materially through the latter part of this decade. On the thermal side, energy security
has become the governing concern for Asian power markets, and utilities have prioritized supply
diversification in response to LNG price volatility and disruption to alternative fuel sources.
This backdrop is directly relevant to Forge. The Company's Colombian asset base sits close to
established export infrastructure and is positioned to serve both Atlantic and Pacific Basin trade flows.
Where supply constraints are structural rather than cyclical, permitted early-stage assets in stable
jurisdictions offer investors leveraged exposure to sustained price strength.
Figure 1:
Coal pricing July 2026 to September 2026
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8680/313187_9d3cfe2374cc693e_001full.jpg
Source:
Trading Economics, "Coal" (Newcastle FOB thermal coal futures), as at 2 September 2026.
https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/coal
Trading Economics, "Coking Coal" (coking coal futures), as at 2 September 2026.
https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/coking-coal
Colombia: A New Administration and a Changed Policy Environment
Colombia's 2026 presidential election has produced an outcome the Company regards as a materially
positive development for the country's mining sector. Abelardo de la Espriella won the June 21 runoff by
roughly 250,000 votes over Senator Iván Cepeda.
Mr. de la Espriella campaigned on a market-oriented platform: a hardline security agenda, and renewed
support for the resource industries. His government plan treats hydrocarbons and mining as strategic
priorities and commits to reducing the regulatory burden that has slowed extractive projects.
In his inaugural address, Mr. de la Espriella described energy security as "a matter of national
sovereignty" and said Colombia could not expect long-term prosperity by leaving its natural resources
undeveloped, adding that an energy transition "must be built from strength, not from weakness, from self-
sufficiency and not from dependence." He named the rebuilding of Ecopetrol, the majority state-owned
oil company, as a priority of his administration.
For the coal sector, the significance lies in the direction of travel. The previous administration declined to
sign new oil, gas and coal exploration contracts as part of its energy transition agenda, and the resulting
uncertainty weighed on foreign investment across Colombian mining and energy. The incoming
government's stated commitment to a stable, rules-based framework that recognizes the sector's
contribution to export earnings, fiscal revenue and regional employment marks a clear change in tone,
and it has been received positively by investors and operators active in the country.
The Company expects the permitting and operating environment for responsible, well-managed coal
projects to become more predictable, reducing the regulatory uncertainty discount that has historically
weighed on Colombian development-stage valuations. For operators with established permits and a
demonstrated record on environmental and community standards, that is a direct improvement in the
risk-adjusted attractiveness of the asset base.
Forge Resources is a permitted operator in Colombia and has conducted its activities in accordance
with the highest standards of responsible resource development throughout. The Company believes it is
well-positioned to benefit from the improved regulatory climate and looks forward to continued
constructive engagement with Colombian authorities as La Estrella advances.
PJ Murphy, CEO states:
"We are at an extraordinary confluence of factors that we have been
working toward for some time. Internationally benchmarked coal prices remain at levels that
validate the economics of responsible development projects, and the political outcome in
Colombia has given operators like Forge Resources a much clearer runway to advance our work in
a stable and supportive regulatory environment."
Equity Financing with Strategic Buyer
The Company is pleased to announce that it has entered into an engagement letter agreement with
Ventum Financial Corp. (the "
Agent
"), pursuant to which the Agent will offer, on a "best efforts" private
placement basis, up to 8,000,000 units (the "
Units
") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000
(the "
Offering
"), including a sole subscription from one strategic buyer.
Each Unit, offered at $0.25 per Unit, will be comprised of one common share and one common share
purchase warrant (a "
Unit Warrant
").
Each Unit Warrant will be exercisable into one common share of
the Company at an exercise price of $0.40 per share for a period of 24 months from issuance.
The
securities offered under the LIFE Exemption to subscribers resident in Canada will be freely tradeable
and will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.
Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National
Instrument 45-106 -
Prospectus Exemptions
("
NI 45-106
"), the Units are being made available to
purchasers resident in each of the Provinces of Canada, except Quebec, pursuant to the listed issuer
financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 -
Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption
(the "
LIFE
Exemption
").
The Agent will also be entitled to offer the Units for sale in the United States pursuant to available
exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States
Securities Act of 1933
, as amended
(the "
1933 Act
"), and in those other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States provided it is
understood that no prospectus filing or comparable obligation arises in such other jurisdiction.
The Company has granted the Agent an option to arrange for the sale of up to an additional 15% of the
Units at the applicable offering price. This option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time up to
48 hours prior to the Closing Date (the "
Agent's Option
"), subject to the limitations prescribed by the
LIFE Exemption.
Upon the closing of the Offering, the Company shall pay to the Agent: (i) a cash commission equal to
7.0% of the aggregate proceeds of the Offering payable in cash (including any exercise of the Agent's
Option); and (ii) compensation warrants of the Company exercisable at any time prior to the date that is
24 months from the Closing Date to acquire a number of Units equal to 7.0% of the aggregate number of
Units issued pursuant to the Offering, at an exercise price of $0.25 per Unit. The compensation options
will be issued pursuant to available exemptions under NI 45-106 other than the LIFE Exemption and,
accordingly, will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day following the closing date
of the Offering.
There is an offering document (the "
Offering Document
") related to the Offering that can be accessed
under the Company's profile at
www.sedarplus.ca
and on the Company's website at:
www.forgeresources.com
. Prospective investors should read the Offering Document before making an
investment decision.
The Company plans to use the proceeds from the Units to further the development of its La Estrella
project, and for general expenses and working capital.
The Offering is expected to close on or about September 15, 2026 (the "
Closing Date
"), and is subject
to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the
approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "
CSE
").
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in
the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the 1933 Act or any
state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the
1933 Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
About Forge Resources Corp.
Forge Resources Corp. is a Canadian-listed junior exploration company. The Company holds an 80%
interest in Aion Mining Corp., a company that is developing the fully permitted La Estrella coal project in
Santander, Colombia. La Estrella contains eight known seams of metallurgical and thermal coal.
The Company also holds an option on the Alotta project, a prospective porphyry copper-gold-
molybdenum project consisting of 230 mineral claims that cover 4,723 hectares, located 50 km south-
east of the Casino porphyry deposit in the unglaciated portion of the Dawson Range porphyry/epithermal
belt in the Yukon Territory of Canada.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
"PJ Murphy", CEO Forge Resources Corp.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may contain forward-looking
information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information
includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the continued advancement of the La Estrella
project, future underground development activities, potential expansion of site infrastructure, workforce
growth, expected benefits of road access improvements, ongoing environmental and reforestation
initiatives, and the Company's plans, objectives and expectations for the project. Forward-looking
information is based on the views, opinions, intentions and estimates of management at the date the
information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those
anticipated or projected in the forward-looking information (including the actions of other parties who
have agreed to do certain things and the approval of certain regulatory bodies). Many of these
assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there
is no assurance they will prove to be correct. There can be no assurance that forward-looking
information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such information.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-
looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except
as required by applicable securities laws, or to comment on analyses, expectations or statements
made by third parties in respect of the Company, its financial or operating results or its securities. The
reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. We seek safe harbor.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION,
DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR
INTO THE UNITED STATES.
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