Operations on Halmahera Island (Indonesia) Reaction to Survival International's inaccurate allegations – April 16th, 2023 Update 8th December 2023

Eramet is part of Weda Bay mining operations with an indirect minority shareholding (39%) of the Indonesian company PT Weda Bay Nickel, alongside the Tsinghan group (51%) and the Indonesian State via PT ANTAM (10%). WBN operates a nickel ore mine and a nickel refinery plant on Halmahera Island. PT Weda Bay Nickel’s operations are conducted in compliance with the authorisations granted by the Indonesian authorities. In addition, in partnership with the German group BASF, Eramet currently conducts some feasibility studies, to develop, in Indonesia, a project for a hydrometallurgical plant to process nickel and cobalt. This project is known as the Sonic Bay Project. The Sonic Bay Project is intended to be located on the central coastal region of Halmahera Island.

On certain parts of Halmahera Island, live the Tobelo people, a mixed groups of settled and semi-nomadic people living in the interior forests of the island (they are also called O’Hongana Manyawa or Tobelo Dalam). Some of them have regularly and voluntarily visited WBN's camp since the early exploration time, more than 15 years ago. PT Weda Bay Nickel has succeeded over the years in developing respectful interactions with them, of which a few individuals are understood to be living or passing by on or in the vicinity of WBN's concession.

In the framework of ESG risks management, wherever Eramet has operations, the Group is committed to respecting the human rights of the surrounding populations: social studies are routinely conducted to gain an understanding of the populations living in the vicinity of our mining concessions and to develop appropriate community engagement plans and mitigation measures. Eramet who places community relations and corporate social responsibility at the hearth of its development, is determined to take actions for in favour of the respect of local communities. Since the beginning of Weda Bay Nickel Project, PT Weda Bay Nickel has conducted several independent social studies which are regularly updated. With the development of mining operations (less than 2% of the 45.000 hectares of the concession of Weda Bay Nickel have been opened so far), a new dedicated field study has been conducted between February and June 2023, led by Syaiful Madjid, a prominent and independent anthropologist from the Khairun University of Ternate (Indonesia) who has been conducting research on the Tobelo community living in the forest for more than two decades. This study, finalized in October 2023, showed that:

-  A group of 9 individuals belonging to the Tobelo community roams within the concession area.

-  Some Tobelo groups currently live outside the concession area.

-  All the groups investigated by the study have contact with the local communities and do not live in isolation.
The results of this study will enable PT Weda Bay Nickel to design and implement, where necessary, appropriate mitigation measures and to improve its engagement with these communities.
Studies conducted by experts have been carried out and continue to be carried out to ensure peaceful and respectful coexistence with the Tobelo groups to ensure efficient mitigation of any impact the activity may have on these groups.
The NGO Survival International has regularly been informed by Eramet that the management is willing to engage in constructive dialogue and several virtual meetings have been already held with Survival International and BASF in 2023. Eramet and PT Weda Bay Nickel shared their views on the due diligence approach. Regular exchanges have also been conducted with analysts, investors, and rating agency to inform of the execution of PT Weda Bay Nickel mitigation plan.