Atico Signs an Agreement With the Ecuadorian Energy Company for the Engineering, Permitting and Construction of the La Plata Power Line

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atico Mining Corporation (the "Company” or "Atico”) (TSX.V: ATY | OTC: ATCMF) is pleased to inform that the Company officially entered into an inter-institutional cooperation agreement ("The Power Agreement”) between CNEL, the Ecuadorian National Electrical Company and its Ecuadorean subsidiary Compañía Minera La Plata S.A.

The Company continues to advance the La Plata permitting process while in parallel advancing different aspects of required work to complete the planned feasibility study. As a major component of this study, finding a solution for clean energy is an important milestone. After several months of productive negotiations with CNEL and the Ecuadorean energy authorities we are pleased with the execution of this strategic agreement as it brings the Company’s La Plata project another step closer towards production.

The La Plata project has received strong support from the Government of Ecuador and has been identified as part of the "second generation” priority projects necessary for the nation’s economic development. The Power Agreement confirms the collaboration between Compañía Minera La Plata S.A, the local subsidiary of Atico Mining in Ecuador and the national power company CNEL consisting of the engineering, permitting and construction required to connect the 69kv power line required for La Plata’s planned mining infrastructures located in Palo Quemado, province of Cotopaxi.

Alain Bureau, President of Atico Mining commented: "This is a major milestone our team has achieved for the La Plata project. The government has been quite supportive of the project and our efforts to maintain excellent cooperation and transparency with all level of authorities. This has been key to build trust while making great strides towards fast tracking permitting of this project.  We would like to commend the cooperation of CNEL´s authorities for their support on reaching this milestone.”

The Power Agreement confirms the availability of the required power source from CNEL’s regional substation located only 7.5 km from the project. This Power Agreement also allows the streamlining of the electrical power supply to the project and demonstrates the Ecuadorian Government desire to fully integrate power, oil and mining to rapidly nurture its plans within the upcoming economic growth strategy. This agreement allows an easier cooperation of all engineering and environmental teams to insure the coordinated development and construction of the required powerline and connectivity to the main grid. The country’s authorities are also proud to provide a clean energy source as the majority of Ecuador’s electrical power comes from modern low cost hydroelectrical power plants.

As exploration and in-fill drilling continues for the rest of the year with two drill rigs at La Plata, Atico is boosting its local development team with the reassignment of some of its mining professionals from El Roble to assist with the engineering for the La Plata project. The Atico’s internal development team and network of consultants ("the engineering group”) has been very efficient in the transformation of the El Roble mine from a 350 tpd small scale operation to a modern 1,000 tpd operation. El Roble processing plant expansion has successfully increased its capacity maintaining high ore recoveries while at the same time achieving a lower production cost profile.

About Atico Mining Corporation

Atico is a growth-oriented Company, focused on exploring, developing and mining copper and Gold projects in Latin America. The Company generates significant cash flow through the operation of the El Roble mine and is developing it’s high-grade La Plata VMS project in Ecuador. The Company is also pursuing additional acquisition of advanced stage opportunities. For more information, please visit www.aticomining.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Fernando E. Ganoza
CEO
Atico Mining Corporation

Trading symbols: TSX.V: ATY | OTC: ATCMF

Investor Relations
Igor Dutina
Tel: +1.604.633.9022

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No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities being offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘‘U.S. Securities Act’’), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act) unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation the use of net proceeds, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs; the need to obtain additional financing to maintain its interest in and/or explore and develop the Company’s mineral projects; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for the Company’s mineral projects; the world-wide economic and social impact of COVID-19 is managed and the duration and extent of the coronavirus pandemic is minimized or not long-term; disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other health and safety issues, or the responses of governments, communities, the Company and others to such pandemic or other issues; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors” in the prospectus of the Company dated March 2, 2012 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com