Mineral Commodities Ltd. advised that primary drilling and ore production has recommenced at the Skaland Graphite AS operations following a mechanical failure of the primary ore production drill rig. MRC Graphite (Norway) Pty Ltd. (a subsidiary of the Company) (?MRCGN?) owns 100% of Skaland Graphite AS (?Skaland?). A rental drill rig has been sourced and commissioned at Skaland to replace the primary ore production drill rig (Tamrock Data Solo 1020) that suffered in-service failure in September 2023.

As previously reported, the Skaland owned rig was originally built in 2002 and is approaching the end of its useful life. Recommencement of drilling is approximately one week ahead of initial estimate of mid-October 2023. The rental drill rig, while currently operational and performing, is also an older rig and the Company is continuing to consider options to replace the current rental rig with a new or more recently built second hand unit.

A decision is expected on longer term solution as part of the upcoming 2024 budget planning cycle. Now that the rental drill rig is settling into operations, ore production has recommenced and the process plant is expected to begin producing finished product in coming days. The first shipment of graphite by barge ex Skaland is expected late October /early November 2023.

Business impact. The Company previously estimated a negative impact to cash flows of approximately USD 0.6 million - USD 0.9 million depending on the timing of delivery of the rental machine. A revised estimate is USD 0.6 million.