Mawson Publishes Inaugural ‘Digbee’ ESG Score Underlining Commitment to Transparency and Disclosure Through Independent Assessment
1305 – 1090 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7
Phone: +1 604 685 9316 / Fax: +1 604 683 1585
NEWS RELEASE OCTOBER 13, 2021
MAWSON PUBLISHES INAUGURAL ‘DIGBEE’ ESG SCORE UNDERLINING COMMITMENT TO
TRANSPARENCY AND DISCLOSURE THROUGH INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT
Vancouver, Canada — Mawson Gold Limited (“Mawson” or the “Compa ny”) (TSX:MAW) (Frankfurt:MXR)
(PINKSHEETS: MWSNF) is pleased to announce the results of its inaugural Environment al and Social Governance “ESG”
assessment, undertaken independently through the Digbee ESG rep o r t i n g a n d a s s e s s m e n t f r a m e w o r k . T h e D i g b e e
framework provides an ESG assessment for junior mining companies across 22 global ESG standards, including SASB, GRI,
International Finance Corporation, Equator Principles Associati on and World Gold Council. Mawson is the first company
using the Digbee platform to publish its inaugural score, which is not mandatory in its inaugural year under the platform.
In addition to what Mawson has accomplished to date, the report provides for how Mawson will continue to improve its
performance moving forward.
Highlights:
Overarching Mawson Gold score of ‘BB’, noting the Company has “strong ESG leadership and demonstrates a
clear desire to operate in a sustainable manner both now and in the long term”.
Rajapalot with the most positive score of ‘BBB’, referencing the contribution of Mawson’s “well respected
Environmental Director [Ms Noora Ahola] who is not only helping to improve the project from an already good base,
but also taking part in industry and national level forums”.
Sunday Creek and Redcastle + Whroo both scoring ‘BB’.
Every aspect of the business has the potential to reach ‘AAA’ through risk mitigation, as demonstrated
in the confidence bands applied by the assessors.
Scoring is undertaken by an independent team of accredited ESG experts who have deep experience in
mining projects similar to those being scored.
Mawson is the first Digbee participant to publish its inaugural ESG score. Publishing is not mandatory at
this time, and underlines Mawson’s commitment to transparency and disclosure to ESG matters.
Ivan Fairhall, CEO Mawson Gold, states: “We are incredibly proud to be a leader and first to publish our inaugural ESG score
in the true ESG spirit of transparency and disclosure. This sco re independently endorses what I quickly understood about
Mawson before joining – that ESG stewardship is deeply embedded in everything that Mawson does. Rajapalot is one of
the most broadly supported projects in Finland with demonstrative support from local communities, municipalities, reindeer
herders, and Lapland’s political and administrative leadership, amongst others. I sincerely thank our Environmental Director
Noora Ahola for leading these efforts over the last 7 years, and look forward to working alongside her and Mawson’s team
in continuing to demonstrate our commitment to local stakeholde r s , a s w e l l a s o u r i n v e s t o r s w h o e x p e c t t h e h i g h e s t
standards of governance and accountability.”
Jamie Strauss, CEO Digbee, states: ”We commend Mawson’s initiative in self-reporting their inaugural Digbee ESG Score.
ESG is all about transparency and continuous improvement, and we are proud that Digbee’s ESG platform is recognized
as an enabler of this within the mining industry. There are billions of dollars of investment capital looking for companies
who wholly embrace ESG and can demonstrate real action on the ground to improve conditions across the ESG spectrum.
Mawson have demonstrated this today, and as more companies step forward in this way, it will create the transparency
and culture of improvement necessary to drive real change.”
A Digbee ESG submission comprises two types of questionnaires: (1) a single corporate-level questionnaire, and (2) one or
more project-level questionnaires. The questionnaires are tailored to the stage of the mining company and its projects (i.e.,
exploration, development and/or producing). Each question is sc ored in accordance with Digbee’s scoring criteria and
averaged to provide an overall output score along with a confidence banding. A confidence banding illustrates the potential
range with which the awarded score can move should any of the risks be realized or mitigated. Scoring is undertaken by a
team of accredited ESG experts who have deep experience in mini ng projects similar to those being scored. Each scoring
team consists of two scorers and a team lead. This team of thre e ensures consistent scoring through robust peer review
and quality control. Figure 1 depicts Mawson’s scores graphically.
Figure 1: Digbee ESG scores for Mawson Gold, and its constituent business units
A comprehensive qualitative analysis by Digbee is available through the Mawson Gold website here In summary:
Mawson Gold Ltd – The Company has strong ESG leadership and demonstrates a clear desire to operate in a sustainable
manner both now and in the long term. The Board consists of a diverse range of skills and individuals, which enhances the
professional approach to business practices and governance rega rding decision making. The Mawson Gold team are
encouraged to actively participate in industry interest groups as well as the development of new technology that will help
to make the sector more sustainable.
Rajapalot (Finland) – A very promising gold and cobalt exploration project in Finl and with more than 10 years of
exploration activity to date. The team is enhanced by a well-re spected Environmental Director who is not only helping to
improve the project from an already good base, but also taking part in industry and national level forums and communities.
While a small portion (18%) of the total permit area lies within biodiversity conservation areas (Natura 2000), it should be
noted that Mawson is permitted to complete all exploration for its priority target areas.
Sunday Creek (Australia) – An early-stage gold exploration project located in an area which has been an active mining
prospect since the 19th Century. Located 65km north of Melbourne, the project’s workforce is drawn almost entirely from
the local population. Infrastructure required for more advanced exploration and development is already in place.
Redcastle and Whroo (Australia) – Two separate projects, at similar stages of exploration, loc ated in the same local
government area within 100km of one another, and therefore asse ssed in the same Digbee ESG review. As with Sunday
Creek, these projects are located within historic mining areas and are approximately 120km north of Melbourne. Redcastle
is located immediately adjacent to an active mining operation and large national defence training facility. Part of the lease
for the projects is located in a state forest, in which the government is supportive of mining activities. These land uses are
therefore positive regarding the potential for a new mining operation
About Mawson Gold Limited (TSX:MAW, FRANKFURT:MXR, OTCPINK:MWSNF)
Mawson Gold Limited is an exploration and development company. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic Arctic exploration
company with a focus on the flagship Rajapalot gold-cobalt proj ect in Finland. Mawson also owns or is joint venturing into thr ee high-
grade, historic epizonal goldfields covering 470 square kilometres in Victoria, Australia and is well placed to add to its already significant
gold-cobalt resource in Finland.
About Digbee ESG
Digbee has partnered with leaders in the ESG world to develop a right-sized, future-looking and industry endorsed set of frameworks for
all stages of mining companies to assess and disclose their ESG metrics while ensuring best practice. This impact-based approa ch has
recognized over 25 initiatives and reporting frameworks, is practical and addresses real risk. The questionnaire is accompanied with clear
rationale and guidance. Submitted annually, through a Board App roval process, Digbee ESG allo w s c o m p a r i s o n t o p e e r s , h e l p s
management and the Board to integrate ESG within the company st rategy while improving risk management, and will become the
benchmark for engagement with capital providers and other stakeholders.
On behalf of the Board,
"Ivan Fairhall"
Ivan Fairhall, CEO
Further Information
www.mawsongold.com
1305 – 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7
Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary, +1 (604) 685 9316,
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements or forwar d-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian s e c u r i t i e s l a w s
(collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based
upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, including that the Company can access
financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labor. Forward -looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate,
intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are th ose, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cau tions investors that any
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates; changes in world metal
markets; changes in equity markets; ability to achieve goals; t hat the political environment in which the Company operates wil l continue to support the
development and operation of mining projects; the threat associ ated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, includi ng the novel COVID-19
virus; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; reliance on a single asset; planned drill programs
and results varying from expectations; unexpected geological conditions; local community relations; dealings with non-governmental organizations; delays
in operations due to permit grants; environmental and safety ri sks; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the head ing "Risk Factors" in
Mawson's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Mawson, in
light of management’s experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Mawson can give no assurance that such expectations
will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable
securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events
or results or otherwise.