KELLOGG, Idaho, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (“Bunker Hill” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: BNKR |OTCQB: BHLL) announces it has received the final tranche, in the amount of US$6 million under the senior secured credit facility (the “Standby Facility”) with Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. (“Sprott Streaming”), pursuant to which Sprott Streaming has already advanced US$15 million and has agreed to advance up to an aggregate of US$21 million under the Standby Facility, to fund development costs of the Company’s Bunker Hill Mine located in Kellogg, Idaho subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.
Sam Ash, President, CEO and Director, stated, “We are making steady progress in our strategic financing discussions and continue to advance the Bunker Hill Mine restart with Sprott Streaming's crucial and consistent support. All parties are excited by the ability of this investment to create new American mining jobs, thereby helping to increase the reliable supply of American metal at this critical time. Although it should be noted that the time taken to conclude any financing deal will likely push the start of commercial operations into H2 2025.”
Bunker Hill Mining Corp.
Figure 1: Progress since September 2024 at the rear of the processing facility, ore silo, and motor control center
UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY EXECUTIVE ORDER
Our progress coincides with the announcement by the new Federal administration of an enhanced focus on critical minerals, including Zinc. On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued the “Unleashing American Energy” Executive Order, which included (i) several urgent critical mineral and rare earth directives, including the immediate review of all agency actions that potentially burden the development of domestic energy resources with particular attention to critical minerals; (ii) directing the Secretary of Energy to ensure that critical mineral projects, including the processing of critical minerals, receive consideration for Federal support; (iii) directing the Secretary of Defense to consider the needs of the U.S. in supplying and maintaining the National Defense Stockpile to provide a robust supply of critical minerals; and (iv) establishing the U.S. position as the leading producer and processor of rare earth minerals, which will create jobs and prosperity at home, strengthen supply chains for the U.S. and its allies, and reduce the global influence of malign and adversarial states.
US EXIM BANK UPDATE
In parallel with the ongoing financing discussions with its strategic partners, the Company is also advancing its application for US EXIM Bank financing. Following the issue of the letter of intent in October 2024 to provide US$150 Million in debt finance and a meeting with US EXIM staff in Washington DC last month, the Company has been invited to present its formal application in March 2025. Should it be successful, these funds are intended to be used to expand and optimize production, increase the life of mine, and retire certain high-cost elements of existing debt finance, thereby strengthening the balance sheet. An emerging partnership that strengthens US critical metal supply chains and creates more US employment at a time of intense global competition.
RESOURCE AND RESERVES UPDATE
The Company remains on track to issue an updated mineral estimate in Q1 2025 before PDAC, with a full report expected to be published in April 2025.
ABOUT BUNKER HILL MINING CORP.
Bunker Hill Mining Corp. is an American mineral exploration and development company focused on revitalizing our historic mining asset: the renowned zinc, lead, and silver deposit in northern Idaho's prolific Coeur d'Alene mining district. This strategic initiative aims to breathe new life into a once-productive mine, leveraging modern exploration techniques and sustainable development practices to unlock the potential of this mineral-rich region. Bunker Hill Mining Corp. aims to maximize shareholder value while responsibly harnessing the mineral wealth in the Silver Valley mining district by concentrating our efforts on this single, high-potential asset. Information about the Company is available on its website, www.bunkerhillmining.com, or within the SEDAR+ and EDGAR databases.
On behalf of Bunker Hill Mining Corp.
Sam Ash President, CEO & Director
For additional information, please contact:
Brenda Dayton Vice President, Investor Relations T: 604.417.7952 E: brenda.dayton@bunkerhillmining.com
Cautionary Statements
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSX-V”) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as within the meaning of the phrase ‘forward-looking information’ in the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company’s future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “estimates”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, “plan” or variations of such words and phrases.
Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Company’s objectives, goals or future plans, including the restart and development of the Bunker Hill Mine; the achievement of future short-term, medium-term and long-term operational strategies; further draws by the Company on the Standby Facility, including the Company satisfying any or all of the conditions in connection therewith; the planned use of funds from the Standby Facility; the Company engaging with stakeholders and strategic investors and securing additional financing for its Bunker Hill Mine; and the expected benefits of the potential restart of the Bunker Hill Mine, including, without limitation, job creation and improvement of American industrial security. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: Bunker Hill’s ability to receive sufficient project financing for the restart and development of the Bunker Hill Mine on an acceptable timeline, on acceptable terms, or at all; further drilling and geotechnical work supporting the planned restart and operations at the Bunker Hill Mine; the future price of metals; and the stability of the financial and capital markets. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risks and uncertainties identified in public filings made by Bunker Hill with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, and the following: the Company’s ability to operate as a going concern and its history of losses; the Company’s inability to raise additional capital for project activities, including through equity financings, concentrate offtake financings or otherwise; the fluctuating price of commodities; capital market conditions; restrictions on labor and its effects on international travel and supply chains; failure to identify mineral resources; further geotechnical work not supporting the continued development of the Bunker Hill Mine or the results described herein; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the Company’s ability to raise sufficient project financing, on acceptable terms or at all, to restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine and the risks of not basing a production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, resulting in increased uncertainty due to multiple technical and economic risks of failure which are associated with this production decision including, among others, areas that are analyzed in more detail in a feasibility study, such as applying economic analysis to resources and reserves, more detailed metallurgy and a number of specialized studies in areas such as mining and recovery methods, market analysis, and environmental and community impacts and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit, with no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved; the Company requiring additional capital expenditures than anticipated, resulting in delays in the expected restart timeline; failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations; failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company’s cash flow and future profitability; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; changes in equity markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inability of the Company to budget and manage its liquidity in light of the failure to obtain additional financing, including the ability of the Company to complete the payments pursuant to the terms of the agreement to acquire the Bunker Hill Mine complex; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; and capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements or information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all, including as to whether or when the Company will achieve its project finance initiatives, or as to the actual size or terms of those financing initiatives, or whether and when the Company will achieve its operational and construction targets. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors that could affect the Company’s operations or financial results are included in the Company’s annual report and may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or through EDGAR on the SEC website (www.sec.gov).
