Lion One Announces Evaporator System Approved for the Tuvatu Gold Mine US$1.14 Million Investment in Permanent Water Management Solution Eliminates Environmental Discharge Risk at Tuvatu
Lion One Announces Evaporator System
Approved for the Tuvatu Gold Mine
US$1.14 Million Investment in Permanent Water Management
Solution Eliminates Environmental Discharge Risk at Tuvatu
Nadi, Fiji--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2026) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF)
("Lion One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has approved an investment of US$1.14
million for the procurement and installation of an evaporator system at the Company's 100%-owned
Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji ("Tuvatu"). The evaporator is a permanent solution for managing
excess process water in the Tailings Storage Facility ("TSF"), and is expected to be fully operational by
late April to early May 2026, coinciding with the start of Fiji's dry season.
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Strategic Rationale
The Company conducted a thorough evaluation of water management alternatives for the TSF, including
reverse osmosis ("RO") and enhanced evaporation technologies. The evaporator system was selected
as the optimal solution following detailed engineering and commercial assessment, based on the
following key advantages:
Permanent elimination of discharge: The evaporator removes the need for any process water to be
discharged into the Sabeto River system, delivering a robust environmental outcome and removing
ongoing regulatory risk
Reduced timeline risk: The system can be operational within approximately six weeks of order
placement, significantly faster than alternative solutions which face regulatory and procurement
delays with no defined resolution timeline
Cost-effective solution: The total capital investment of approximately US$1.14 million includes
US$190,000 allocated for an optional acoustic silencer to enable 24-hour operations if required.
Industry experience indicates an RO plant alternative would cost a comparable amount for a single
dry season rental alone
Regulatory certainty: The evaporation approach bypasses the uncertainty surrounding river
discharge permits, which remain subject to completion of an independent environmental impact
assessment that has been uninitiated for over six months with no end in sight
Water Management Context
The Tuvatu mine's water treatment plant currently processes water from the Mill Pond. While the
treatment plant can reduce the primary contaminant (copper) to acceptable levels, other water quality
parameters including total dissolved solids ("TDS") remain above thresholds required for river
discharge. During significant rainfall events, excess treated water from the Mill Pond is pumped to the
TSF for storage.
There is currently no engineered mechanism, other than natural evaporation, to remove water from the
TSF. The new evaporator system will provide that mechanism through enhanced evaporation, ensuring
the facility maintains safe operating levels. The system, including its dedicated generator set and
ancillary equipment, represents a permanent infrastructure improvement that strengthens the mine's
long-term operational resilience and environmental compliance framework.
The evaporator proposal means that discharging mill water to the Sabeto River would never be required
again. This is a good outcome for the environment and removes regulatory risk from the equation.
Timeline risk is also significantly reduced. The system could be up and running by late April/early May —
just in time for the start of the dry season.
Environmental Benefits
Beyond resolving the immediate water management requirement, the evaporator delivers broader
environmental and ESG benefits:
Creates a self-contained, closed-loop water management system that prevents any process water
from entering the Sabeto River or the broader natural waterway
Replaces temporary or rental-based solutions with permanent infrastructure, reducing long-term
operating costs and maintenance complexity
Strengthens the Company's social licence to operate in the local community by addressing water
management as a permanent, engineered solution
Investment Summary
Item
Details
Status
Evaporator System
Enhanced evaporation technology incl. genset
Approved
Capital Cost
Approx. US$1.14 million
Funded
Acoustic Silencer
US$190K (optional, order deferred)
Contingent
Target Commissioning
Late April / Early May 2026
On track
Discharge Elimination
Permanent - no river discharge required
Confirmed
"This investment permanently resolves our water management requirements while delivering an excellent
environmental outcome. The evaporator is a far more economical and timely solution than the
alternatives, and importantly, it removes regulatory risk entirely. We inherited a situation that required
decisive action, and this is exactly that."
- Campbell Olsen, Chief Executive Officer
The Company will provide further updates on commissioning progress and operational performance as
the evaporator system is installed and brought online.
Qualified Persons Statement
In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-
101"), Stephen Jeffers, FAusIMM, an employee of the Company, is the Head of Mining Operations and
Qualified Person for the Company and has approved the technical and scientific content of this news
release.
About Lion One Metals Limited
Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with
new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The
Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the
Pilot Plant, Tailings Storage facility, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration
license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly
prospective exploration targets.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Campbell Olsen
Chief Executive Officer
Contact Information Lion One Metals Limited
Email:
Phone: 1-855-805-1250 (toll free North America)
Website:
www.liononemetals.com
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evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labor or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals
Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as
anticipated, estimated, or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-
looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking
information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Disclaimer: This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
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