Soma signs deal to acquire sensor-based sorting plant

Mr. Geoff Hampson reports SOMA GOLD SIGNS AGREEMENT FOR SENSOR-BASED SORTING FACILITY AT ITS EL BAGRE OPERATION Following positive additional bench-scale sensor-based sorting (SBS) test work, Soma Gold Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to purchase and install a sensor-based sorting facility at its flagship El Bagre operation in Antioquia, Colombia. The total project budget for the pilot installation is approximately $2.2-million (U.S.). Commissioning of the sorting facility is targeted for the first half of 2026. The recent test was intentionally performed on feed material with a lower average grade, targeting similar objectives as the initial test work, to assess the efficacy of sorting material across the range of grades encountered at Soma's operations in Colombia. A 990-kilogram bulk sample was split into three subsamples: a coarse sample (minus 60 millimetres plus 25 millimetres), a middling sample (minus 25 millimetres plus 10 millimetres) and a combined sample (minus 60 millimetres plus 15 millimetres). The data for the coarse fraction indicate 40-per-cent mass rejection and 97-per-cent metallurgical recovery, while the data for the middling sample indicate 50-per-cent mass rejection and 84-per-cent metallurgical recovery. The data for the combined feed test indicate 55-per-cent mass rejection and 95-per-cent metallurgical recovery, and the gold grade of the sorted material was upgraded by 62.5 per cent. These results continue to demonstrate that mineralized material from the Cordero mine is amenable to sensor-based sorting and that SBS technology can achieve desired gold-grade targets with high mass rejection while minimizing the amount of metal lost to the reject stream. Mark Bren, Soma's vice-president, operations, stated: "We are pleased with the results of sensor-based sorting test work on material from the Cordero complex in Colombia. Our expectation is that we will experience similar results with material from satellite operations, including formalization targets and small, contractor-operated projects. Sensor-based sorting has the potential to significantly impact our operations by allowing us to increase gold production without adding plant capacity and to process mineralized material that has historically been below the processing cut-off grade. Investing in this technology and installing a pilot plant allows us to scale up to commercial-level processing of run-of-mine material, continue in-house evaluation of material from various sources and adjust sorting parameters to optimize the sorted product for plant feed." Qualified person statement Chris Buchanan, PGeo, is Soma's vice-president of exploration and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Buchanan has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this press release. About Soma Gold Corp. Soma Gold is a profitable mining company focused on gold production and exploration. The company owns over 430 square kilometres of mineral concessions following the prolific OTU fault in Antioquia, Colombia, and two fully permitted mills located within 25 kilometres of each other, with a combined milling capacity of 675 tonnes per day. The El Bagre mill operates at 450 tonnes per day and the El Limon mill restarted operations in Q3 2025. Internally generated funds are being used to finance a regional exploration program. With a solid commitment to sustainability and community engagement, Soma Gold is dedicated to achieving excellence in all aspects of its operations. The company also owns an exploration property near Tucuma, Para state, Brazil, that is currently under option to Ero Copper Corp. We seek Safe Harbor.