Innovation drove strong progress for Montero Mining across both its business and exploration activities in 2025. CEO Dr Tony Harwood reflects on the company’s key milestones and how it will continue to push boundaries in 2026.
Q: What were Montero’s standout achievements this year, and why do they matter for the company’s future?
A: 2025 was a pivotal year for Montero, marked by a shift in the company’s approach to early-stage exploration that emphasized disciplined refinement of targets and faster decision-making. The company reviewed multiple projects to complement its Avispa copper-molybdenum project and expand its Chilean portfolio. This search was supported by the formal integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into its exploration workflow.
In parallel, Montero successfully finalised a landmark settlement agreement with the Government of Tanzania for US$27 million. This outcome resolved a long-running dispute, significantly strengthened the company’s balance sheet, and removed a major overhang on shareholder value. In July, Montero returned C$15 million of the settlement proceeds directly to shareholders, underscoring the company’s commitment to capital discipline and shareholder returns.
A further key achievement was the finalisation of multiple agreements with AI and machine-learning specialists in the first quarter of 2025, giving Montero access to advanced analytical tools designed to rapidly screen and assess exploration opportunities.
At year-end, Montero also secured an additional listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, providing European investors with improved access to the company and further broadening its shareholder base.
Together, these achievements position Montero to reduce early-stage exploration risk, shorten evaluation timelines, and deploy capital more efficiently as it moves toward discovery-focused outcomes.
Q: Which exploration milestones or technical insights marked the biggest shift in momentum for the team in 2025?
A: The most significant shift in momentum came from Montero’s ability to rapidly review and prioritise project submissions using its AI-enabled evaluation framework. By combining detailed geological mapping, geophysics, geochemistry, and historical exploration data into unified analytical models, the team was able to move from broad opportunity screening to focused project selection far more quickly than traditional methods allow.
This approach led directly to the execution of two new project agreements in October 2025, which were identified and selected using the AI-assisted methodology. These milestones demonstrated that the evaluation framework is not only technically robust but also effective in supporting real-world investment and exploration decisions.
Q: Briefly, how did advances in data science strengthen Montero’s targeting and overall exploration strategy this year?
A: Advances in data science enabled Montero to move from intuition-led assessments to probability-based decision-making. Machine-learning models were applied to large, multi-source datasets to identify subtle patterns and anomalies associated with potential mineralization.
A strict data-discipline framework was applied to ensure that only validated, high-quality data informed the models. This approach allowed Montero to efficiently combine and analyse complex datasets, strengthen target prioritisation, and reach drill-target decision points as early as possible —thereby reducing both time and cost.
Q: What are the key priorities for the first quarter of 2026, and what progress should stakeholders expect to see early on?
A: The primary focus for the first quarter of 2026 is to continue advancing selected projects toward defined drill targets. This includes ongoing field validation, refinement of AI-generated targeting outputs, and the integration of new data as it becomes available.
Stakeholders should expect Montero to move decisively toward drill-ready decision points – decisions on which targets are ready for drilling — with the objective of defining one or more priority targets for testing as quickly as possible. Drill testing remains the ultimate validation of both the geological model and the company’s AI-assisted exploration strategy.
Q: Is there a broader theme or trend shaping Montero’s direction as you head into the new year?
A: The overarching theme guiding Montero into 2026 is disciplined, technology-enabled exploration combined with a strong focus on capital management. The resolution of the Tanzania matter and the return of capital to shareholders demonstrate Montero’s commitment to creating value not only through discovery but also through prudent financial decisions.
As Montero enters the drilling phase, it will continue to combine experienced geological judgement with AI and machine-learning tools, refining geological and mineralisation models. This approach will ensure that follow-up drilling is targeted and efficient, allowing the company to rapidly determine whether to advance or conclude a programme.
Faster evaluation of results allows Montero to move efficiently into the next stages of its exploration programmes in Chile, increasing the probability of success through momentum and disciplined decision-making.