IEP - 'The Great Fragmentation' Driving Conflict: World Peace Plummets
Rising conflict deaths, accelerating geopolitical tensions, and middle power assertiveness are driving 'The Great Fragmentation' - a fundamental reshaping of the global order and marking the emergence of a new geopolitical era. When combined with major power competition, asymmetric warfare technologies, and mounting debt in fragile economies, the prospect for further conflict is high.
Key findings:
Global peace is at its lowest level since the inception of the Index, while the conditions that precede conflict are the worst since WWII.
Global peacefulness has deteriorated every year since 2014, with 100 countries deteriorating over the last decade.
There are currently 59 active state-based conflicts - the most since the end of WWII, with 152,000 conflict-related deaths recorded in 2024.
There were 17 countries with over 1,000 internal conflict deaths in 2024, the highest since 1999, and a further 18 countries that recorded over 100 deaths.
The world is at an inflection point, with global influence and power fragmenting.
The number of globally influential countries has nearly tripled since the end of the Cold War, rising from 13 to 34 by 2023.
Conflicts are becoming more internationalised, with 78 countries involved in conflicts beyond their borders in 2024.
The global economic impact of violence reached $19.97 trillion in 2024, equivalent to 11.6% of global GDP, with military expenditure alone accounting for $2.7 trillion.
The world is at an inflection point, and the number of state-based conflicts is the highest since World War II. Conflicts are becoming more difficult to win and increasingly expensive - at the same time, global investment in conflict prevention has dramatically reduced. Eighty-seven countries deteriorated in peacefulness in 2024 compared to 74 that improved. However, some indicators showed improvement in 2024, notably criminality and homicide rates, which continued their long-term trends.
Beyond the immense human suffering, conflict represents a substantial economic burden through the displacement, dislocated trade, business uncertainty, and destruction of infrastructure. The global economic impact of violence reached $19.97 trillion in 2024, while the countries worst affected by conflict have recorded drops in GDP of up to 30% in a single year. Global expenditure on peacekeeping, relative to military expenditure, is at its lowest level in more than two decades - just 0.52% of total military spending in 2024.
The concentration of global influence and power is shifting, with mid-level powers becoming more active and influential within their regions due to their rising wealth. This has led to a fragmentation of influence and increasing competition, often between themselves. Relations with neighbouring countries have deteriorated substantially in the last decade, with 43 countries deteriorating and only 10 improving.
There are now 34 countries with significant geopolitical influence in at least one other nation, compared to just thirteen at the end of the Cold War. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, India, the UAE, Israel, South Africa, Brazil, and Indonesia have become influential regional powers. Adding to the fragmentation, restrictive trade practices tripled to over 3,000 measures in 2023. China has witnessed the largest increase in influence since the Cold War but appears to be plateauing, with its gross debt rising to near 300% of GDP and FDI falling dramatically to its lowest level in 20 years.
Regional Analysis
Western and Central Europe remains the most peaceful region globally, with Iceland remaining the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008, joined at the top of the index by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Switzerland. European economies are experiencing sustained low growth, and with reductions in foreign aid and the current global retreat from democracy, their influence is diminishing. France and the UK have had the largest falls in influence.
For the first time, Russia is the least peaceful country in the world, followed by Ukraine, Sudan, DRC, and Yemen. Europe's military expenditure is almost four times Russia's, yet its combined military capacity is only one-third higher. As defence budgets increase, diverting funds from healthcare and education, governments risk exacerbating already high social tensions. Europe's priority should be efficiency and integration, not spending levels. Without a unified strategic vision and integrated command systems, their defence potential remains unrealised. Europe must seek to balance defence requirements with internal cohesion.
Central and North America recorded the second-largest decline, with Canada recording the largest fall in the region, mainly due to a deterioration in the neighbouring country relations indicator following heightened tensions with the US administration. The US score did not change; however, future falls are likely due to rising political tensions and increasing polarisation. There have been over 1500 violent demonstrations in the US since 2020, with 51 violent demonstrations recorded since the last federal election
Steve Killelea, Founder & Executive Chairman, IEP:"The concept of 'forever wars' is more real than at any stage in history. This year's Global Peace Index shows that the world is at a critical inflection point with Global Fragmentation dramatically increasing. This is driven by rising middle-level powers, major power competition, and unsustainable levels of debt burdens in the world's most fragile countries. This is leading to a fundamental realignment and a possible tipping point to a new international order, the nature of which still can't be fathomed."
Conflict Hotspots & Risk Assessment
The MENA region remains the world's least peaceful, with four countries ranked in the bottom ten on the GPI: Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and Israel.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the most countries engaged in conflict, with 35 of 43 countries involved in a conflict in the past five years - a significant increase from just seven in 2008. Sub-Saharan Africa's debt servicing to government revenue is particularly concerning, at over 40%. These countries are amongst the most fragile in the world.
The Sahel remains the global epicentre of terrorism. Africa Corps continues to build its presence in the region with major arms shipments to Mali, ranked 154th, avoiding western sanctions while the remnants of the Wagner group withdraw. The shipments include tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery and planes.
South Asia recorded the largest deterioration in peacefulness, driven by repressive measures in Bangladesh and civil unrest and conflict in Pakistan. Kashmir clearly illustrates the risk of conflict escalation, with an April 2025 terror attack bringing nuclear-armed India and Pakistan close to open war.
South America was the only region to improve, with Peru recording the biggest improvement, driven by reductions in civil unrest.
IEP has developed a new set of predictive conflict measures that identify areas at highest risk of escalation into major wars: Kashmir, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Syria. All these conflicts are at risk of more than tens of thousands of annual casualties.
Technology & Modern Warfare
The changing nature of technology is fundamentally altering conflict dynamics, making warfare more accessible and prolonged. The number of companies manufacturing drones increased from 6 in 2022 to over 200 in 2024. Ukraine will produce more than 2.5 million drones in 2025. The next generation of drones will be AI-enhanced and capable of autonomous navigation, swarm coordination, and precision targeting. The conflict in Ukraine has become a testing ground for this new warfare, with drone attacks by Ukrainian forces increasing by over 127 times since the early days of the war.
Inexpensive drones, improvised explosive devices, and other technologies, costing as little as a few hundred dollars, can neutralise high-value military assets worth millions, fundamentally redressing the power balance between state and non-state actors. This asymmetric capability means smaller insurgent groups can now sustain conflicts against far larger conventional forces. Once these technologies are adopted by insurgent militias globally, it will become increasingly difficult to contain their activity, contributing to the 'forever wars' phenomenon where conflicts become prolonged and unwinnable.
Notes to Editors
The full GPI 2025 report and interactive map are available at: visionofhumanity.org
X: @GlobPeaceIndex
Facebook: facebook.com/globalpeaceindex
About the Global Peace Index (GPI)
The GPI is produced by the international think tank the Institute for Economics & Peace and has been published annually for the last 19 years. It is the most comprehensive resource on global peace trends, ranking 163 independent states and territories, covering 99.7 per cent of the world's population. It uses multiple indicators to measure the state of peace across 'societal safety and security', 'ongoing domestic and international conflict', and 'degree of militarisation'.
About the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)
The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) is the world's leading think tank dedicated to developing metrics to analyse peace and to quantify its economic value. It does this by developing global and national indices, including the annual Global Peace Index, calculating the economic cost of violence and understanding Positive Peace, which is the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies.
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Where applicable, specific recoveries have been assigned to geological domains that demonstrate materially different metallurgical character and performance relative to the general mineralization observed across the Luanga deposit. Mini plant tests were also conducted to generate a wide spectrum of concentrate chemistries for pyrometallurgical evaluation. Metallurgical data generated from the mini plant tests were further incorporated into the MRE assumptions. The sample source for the mini plant were inherited, historical, large diameter diamond cores, drilled into a localized, high talc zone in the SW sector of the Luanga deposit. Recoveries achieved were broadly in line with current assumptions (73% combined PGM+Au) but, due to high talc contamination (0.85% of MRE), target concentrate grade was not achieved under the utilised circuit configuration (35g/t). 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Vertical Integration Optionality Due to the anticipated production scale and long LOM which the Luanga deposit may support, and with potential support of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development ("BNDES") and the Brazilian Financial Agency for Studies and Project ("FINEP") initiatives to provide access to a low cost of capital for in-country development of strategic minerals and sustainable materials, vertical integration has been considered as an Alternate Case for the potential future operation. Luanga is located distal to major downstream processing centres globally and the Project could potentially benefit from the maximisation of net returns on metal sales and savings in logistics costs if vertical integration were adopted. 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Processing and Export Free Trade Zone (ZPE) - The Economic Development Company of Pará (CODEC), in partnership with Bravo, has applied to the Brazilian Federal Government (MDIC) to include Bravo into the Processing and Export Free Trade Zone (ZPE) at the Port of Vila do Conde. If approved, Bravo would be permitted to construct its downstream processing facility within the ZPE, benefitting from the associated import and export, and other fiscal and taxation exemptions. In due course, Bravo may conduct a trade-off study to investigate the optimal location (on-mine vs ZPE) for such a downstream processing facility. BNDES and FINEP Funding - Bravo Mining's Luanga Project has been selected by the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development ('BNDES') and the Federal Agency for Funding Authority for Studies and Projects in Brazil ('FINEP'), as one of the successful companies to receive significant potential funding to progress its Luanga Project and downstream facility. This initial round of funding from BNDES and FINEP aims to deploy BRL $5 billion (US $903 million) across leading strategic mineral projects in Brazil. Having now been formally selected, Bravo has initiated discussions with BNDES and FINEP to explore the potential funding structure, which includes economic grants, debt facilities and equity participation. The program aims to develop sustainable supply chains for critical minerals, including PGMs, within Brazil. The funding encompasses various forms of financial support to invest in a range of projects, including commercial-scale plants, pilot facilities, demonstration projects and necessary research studies, depending on the stage of the projects and technologies involved. MRE Growth Potential - The Company also believes that there is further potential to add to the 2025 MRE at Luanga, since the mineralization is open at depth along the entire 8.1km of strike of the Luanga Project, and the MRE constraining pit is limited by the depth of existing drilling. Please refer to press release published on February 18, 2025. IOCG-Style Discovery - The PEA does not factor in the recent copper-gold discoveries on the Project, outside of the Luanga Deposit, which may provide other opportunities for production. Project Risks The PEA incorporates Inferred mineral resources into the assumed production schedule. Additional work would be required to upgrade the confidence level of this material before it could be included in a pre-feasibility study. While it is reasonably expected that such upgrading would be successful, it is not certain that all such Inferred would be upgraded. The market for PGM-Ni concentrates is relatively limited in scale and participants. Bravo has not entered into any offtake agreements at this time, and market interest in and capacity to handle Luanga's contemplated concentrate production may not be available on the same terms and conditions as assumed in the PEA. The PEA assumes that the Luanga Project would be eligible for SUDAM tax benefits (see below), but Bravo has not yet made application for eligibility. Luanga Project 2025 MRE The PEA is based upon the Company's 2025 pit constrained MRE (Table 11), which has an effective date of February 18, 2025. The PEA does not contemplate processing the Oxide component of the MRE, which would require an additional processing plant, configured for oxide material. Mineralized Oxide material would be removed and stockpiled as part of the pre-stripping stage of the open pits, for which material movement costs are assumed in this PEA. The MRE comprises of 158 Mt grading 2.04 g/t PdEq 1 ("Palladium Equivalent") for a total of 10.4 Moz of PdEq 1 in the Measured + Indicated category, and 78 Mt grading 2.01 g/t PdEq 1 for 5.0 Moz PdEq 1 in the Inferred category. Table 8 shows a breakdown of the MRE by tonnage, grade and metal content for each metal, weathering type, and resource classification category. 1 Note on Palladium Equivalent - For grades by individual metals, see Table 11 below, where the footnotes also detail the basis of the Palladium Equivalent calculation. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all mineral resources would be converted into mineral reserves. This MRE includes Inferred Mineral Resources which have not had sufficient work to classify them as Indicated mineral resources. It is uncertain but reasonably expected that inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. For further information please refer to the 2025 MRE NI 43-101 Independent Technical Report (SEDAR+) with an effective date of February 18, 2025. Note that the assumed PEA production schedule is based on a subset of this 2025 MRE and uses a higher cut-off grade (0.87g/t PdEq for the PEA versus 0.5g/t PdEq for the MRE) to provide what Bravo deems to be an optimal return in the PEA economic model, which also excludes consideration of Oxide material at this point in time. Notes to the MRE: 1. The 2025 MRE was prepared by Bernardo Horta de Cerqueira Viana, Geologist, BSc (Geology), FAIG, CEO of GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda. and Porfírio Cabaleiro Rodriguez, Mining Engineer, BSc (Mine Eng), FAIG, CKO of GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda., both independent Qualified Person ("QP") for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The effective date of the MRE is 18 February 2025. 2. Mineral resources are reported using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards and were estimated in accordance with the CIM 2019 Best Practices Guidelines, as required by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). 3. The MRE Estimate is reported/confined within an economic pit shell generated by Dassault Geovia Whittle software, using the following assumptions: Generated from work completed by Bravo and historical test work: Metallurgical recovery in sulphide material of 77% Pd, 81% Pt, 51% Rh, 48% Au, 50% Ni to a Ni-PGM concentrate. Metallurgical recovery in oxide material of 81% Pd, 23% Pt, 54% Rh, 90% Au to a PGM ash residue (Ni not applicable). Metallurgical recovery in high-talc sulphide material of 51% Pd, 55% Pt, 27% Rh, 27% Au, 50% Ni to a Ni-PGM concentrate. Independent Geotechnical Testwork – Overall pit slopes of 40 degrees in oxide and 50 degrees in Fresh Rock. Densities are based on 27,170 drillhole core and 112 in situ samples density measurements. The Mineral Resources are reported on a dry density basis. External downstream payability has not been included, as the base case MRE assumption considers internal downstream processing, with operating costs for downstream processing included in the calculation of the 0.5g/t PdEq 1 cut-off used for the declared MRE. Payable royalties of 2%. (Considering CFEM, for reserves a complete set of royalties must be considered) Metal Pricing For the 2025 MRE, the same pricing regime was used as in the 2023 MRE as there have been no significant changes in prices. This also allows for a direct comparison between the new 2025 MRE and the now defunct 2023 model (a 10-year trailing average - 2014-2023): Pd price of US$1,380/oz, Pt price of US$1,100/oz, Rh price of US$6,200/oz, Au price of US$1,500/oz, Ni price of US$7.10/lb. Palladium Equivalent ("PdEq 1") Calculation: The PdEq equation is: PdEq 1 = Pd g/t + F1 + F2 + F3 + F4 Where: F1 = (Ptp*PtR)/(Pdp*PdR) Ptt F2 = (Rhp*RhR)/(Pdp*PdR) Rht F3 = (Aup*AuR)/(Pdp*PdR) Aut F4 = (Nip*NiR)/(Pdp*PdR) Nit R = Metallurgical Recovery P = Metal Price Costs are taken from comparable projects in GE21's extensive database of mining operations in Brazil, which includes not only operating mines, but recent actual costs from what could potentially be similarly sized operating mines in the Carajás. Costs considered a throughput rate of ca. 10Mtpa. Mining costs: US$2.00/t oxide, US$3.00/t Fresh Rock. Processing costs: US$9.00/t fresh rock, US$7.50/t oxide. US$1.50/t processed, for General & Administration. US$1.00/t processed for grade control. US$0.50/t processed for rehabilitation. Several of these considerations (metallurgical recovery, metal price projections for example) should be regarded as preliminary in nature, and therefore PdEq 1 calculations should be regarded as preliminary in nature. 4. The 2025 MRE supersedes and replaces the Previous Estimate (2023), which should be no longer relied upon. 5. The QP is not aware of political, environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the Mineral Resources other than those typical for mining projects at this stage of development, including those listed in the Technical Report dated October 22 nd, 2023, and in the Company's Annual Information Form dated April 22 nd, 2024. 6. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Permitting On March 3, 2025, the Pará State Environmental Agency (Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente e Sustentabilidade – SEMAS) granted the preliminary license ("LP") to the Luanga Project. The Brazilian mine permitting process consists of three key stages: the preliminary license ("LP"), which has been granted, followed by the installation license ("LI") and, finally, the license to operate ("LO"). The LP is the most critical, time-consuming and challenging to secure, as it defines the project's fundamental parameters and requires both environmental feasibility and social acceptance - both of which were affirmed during the successful public hearing in December 2024. See news release dated March 3, 2025 for additional information. The granted LP provides for the extraction and processing of metallic minerals, including platinum group metals as well as for nickel, copper and gold. The subsequent LI is applied for as a prerequisite for the commencement of construction activities, while the final license (LO) is granted upon completion of construction and the start of operations. SUDAM Taxation Benefit Companies located in the Amazon region may benefit from certain tax incentives. SUDAM is an administratively and financially independent federal government agency that oversees development in the Amazon region. The region includes the state of Pará in which the Project is located. Under the concession program, companies can receive either partial or complete tax exemption on income taxes for Brazilian companies. The tax exemption applies only to income from facilities operating in the designated region and consists of a reduction of 75% off the regular corporate income tax (25%). For the purposes of the PEA, the financial model factors in a reduction of the corporate income tax rate plus social contribution of 34% (25% + 9%) to the 15.25% (25% * 0.25% + 9%) rate available under the SUDAM regime for the Project. The concession is available for an initial period of 10 years of operation. The PEA assumes that the Luanga Project would be eligible for SUDAM tax exemption, but this can only be confirmed once an application has been submitted and approved. About Bravo Mining Corp. Bravo is a Canadian and Brazil-based mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing its PGM+Au+Ni Luanga Project, as well as our Cu-Au exploration opportunities in the world-class Carajás Mineral Province, Para State, Brazil. Bravo is one of the most active explorers in Carajás. The team, comprising of local and international geologists and engineers, has a proven track record of PGM, nickel, and copper discoveries in the region and elsewhere. The individuals in the team have successfully taken a past IOCG greenfield project from discovery to development and production in the Carajás. The Luanga Project is situated on mature freehold farming land and benefits from being located close to operating mines and a mining-experienced workforce, with excellent access and proximity to existing infrastructure, including road, rail, ports, and hydroelectric grid power. Bravo's current Environmental, Social and Governance activities include planting more than 30,000 high-value trees in and around the project area in the past 30 months, while hiring personnel and contracting services locally. Technical Disclosure Technical Disclosure and Qualified Persons Bernardo Horta de Cerqueira Viana, Geologist, BSc (Geology), FAIG, CEO of GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda. and Porfírio Cabaleiro Rodriguez, Mining Engineer, BSc (Mine Eng), FAIG, CKO of GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda., both are an Independent QP as defined in NI 43-101 and are responsible for the PEA. Independent peer reviews were carried out internally within the GE21 Group, over the complete PEA process. Mr. Cabaleiro has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information related to the PEA contained in this news release. Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Simon Mottram, (Fellow Australia Institute of Mining and Metallurgy), President of Bravo Mining Corp. who serves as the Company's "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101. Mr. Mottram has verified the technical data and opinions contained in this news release. Details of the PEA will be provided in a technical report with an effective date of July 7, 2025, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, which will be filed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile within 45 days of this news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "assume", "substantial", "solid", ''improve", ''increase", ''significant", '' success", ''potential ", ''opportunity", "well positioned", variants of these words and other similar words, phrases, or statements that certain events or conditions "could", "may", "should", "will" or "would" occur. This news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the Company's 2025 PEA; the potential for future MRE growth from deeper drilling; the potential to incorporate mineralized material within the pit but stockpiled as below cut-off into future economic studies; the potential to process the oxide mineralized material and the economics thereof; whether or not current or future discoveries of copper-gold mineralization at Luanga will have sufficient economic merit to consider development; potential repeatability and improvements to the economic assumptions and/or to metallurgical recoveries used in the PEA and MRE in future studies; the potential to convert some or all of the MRE to mineral reserves through economic studies and the timing and results of any such studies; the assumption that onsite vertical integration/downstream processing will be technically and economically feasible and that an experienced partner will be identified and terms of a relationship be acceptable to Bravo; the carbon intensity of any future operation; whether of funding from BNDES and FINEP will be made available to Bravo and, if so, on what terms; the ultimate cost of power for any future mine developed; the duration and prices in future commodity cycles; whether more value can be unlocked within the Luanga in the future; changes in the exchange rate between the US$ and Brazilian Real; the results of subsequent stages of permitting, including but not limited to the timing, granting and conditions of the LI and LO referred to herein; the outcomes of future economic studies and the Company's plans in respect thereof. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, unexpected results from exploration programs, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, environmental risks, limitations on insurance coverage; and other risks and uncertainties involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including, but not limited to, the assumption that the assay results confirm that the interpreted mineralization contains significant values of nickel, PGMs and Au; that the mineralization remains open at depth, that PGM and/or Ni grades and mineralized thicknesses are improving at depth; that activities will not be adversely disrupted or impeded by regulatory, political, community, economic, environmental and/or healthy and safety risks; that the Luanga Project will not be materially affected by potential supply chain disruptions; and general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources and PEA (Scoping Study in SEC S-K 1300) This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") modernization rules, known as "S-K 1300", and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" or "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category or converted into mineral reserves in accordance with S-K 1300. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a mineral resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC S-K 1300 standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information contained in this News Release contain descriptions of the Company's mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Non IFRS Financial Performance Measures "All-in Sustaining Cost", "Total Site Costs", "Total Operating Costs", "Net Revenue", and "Free Cashflow" are not performance measures reported in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). These performance measures are included because these statistics are key performance measures that management uses to monitor performance. Management uses these statistics to assess how the Luanga Project compares against its peer projects and to assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the contemplated mining operations. These performance measures do not have a meaning within IFRS and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS. SOURCE Bravo Mining Corp.
Cision Canada
3 hours ago
- Cision Canada
A New Wave of Quebec Water-Tech Entrepreneurs Joins AquaEntrepreneur Français
MONTREAL, July 7, 2025 /CNW/ - As Canada faces a water crisis marked by increasing scarcity, the devastating effects of climate change and cross-border pressures, a bold response is required. Today, AquaAction proudly unveiled 15 Quebec water technology companies at a ceremony marking the launch of the fourth edition of its flagship commercialization program, AquaEntrepreneur. This was the first event to showcase the province's water technology ecosystem at Montreal's brand-new Espace Ax.c, Quebec's innovation hub. The selected companies, representing several regions of Quebec, took the stage alongside Ax.c Founding Director Richard Chénier and Luc Sirois, Quebec's Chief Innovator, to present innovations addressing pressing water-related issues. All participating start-up, scale-up and SME teams are now officially part of the 2025 edition of AquaEntrepreneur. They will engage in an eight-month program focused on commercialization, personalized coaching, implementation of early pilots, connections with technology adopters, as well as access to essential resources to help scale their businesses. Each company will have the opportunity to make direct contact with potential customers adopting water technologies. AquaEntrepreneur's goal is to help launch up to 36 contracts or pilot projects across the province, while securing export opportunities in international markets. "All Quebecers have a connection with our water. Yet the pressures on our water systems are reaching a boiling point," said Soula Chronopoulos, President of AquaAction. "We're here to give the tools and support to a new generation of water entrepreneurs in Quebec." AquaEntrepreneur is the only program in Quebec dedicated exclusively to the commercialization of revolutionary water technologies. It creates direct channels between start-ups, SMEs and municipal and industrial partners wishing to reduce their water-related impact on the climate. Earlier this year, the Quebec government pledged $1.5 million over three years to support AquaEntrepreneur's expansion, as announced by Minister Christopher Skeete. Quotes "From reducing massive water losses to combating pollution, the ingenuity showcased today addresses a wide range of water security challenges. These innovators demonstrate that technology, when supported by vision and purpose, can transform our most pressing water issues into sustainable solutions." - François de Gaspé Beaubien, Founding Chair, AquaAction "AquaEntrepreneur Québec is an essential program that supports emerging innovators in the field of water technologies. By accelerating the commercialization of their solutions, we are proving that water-related issues can be transformed into real economic opportunities for young Quebec businesses. Our government is proud to ensure the continuation of this initiative, which plays a key role in the more sustainable management and protection of our water resources." - Christopher Skeete, Minister for the Economy, Minister Responsible for the Fight against Racism, and Minister Responsible for the Laval Region "It's exciting to see AquaAction set up shop in Espace Ax.c, a space designed to accelerate the ideas of visionaries like those supported by this magnificent organization. AquaAction's entrepreneurs are at the heart of the future of clean technologies in Quebec. Québec Tech is following with interest these innovations, which we hope will make a concrete impact on the quality of our planet as soon as possible." - Richard Chénier, General Director, Québec Numérique "Ovivo is proud to stand alongside AquaAction in championing Quebec's next generation of water-tech innovators. As a global leader in water treatment solutions, we believe in the power of collaboration to drive sustainable impact. The AquaEntrepreneur program plays an important role in accelerating commercialization and supporting business growth, and we are honoured to support this new group of entrepreneurs as they shape the future of water." - Marie-Pierre Lavallée, Vice President, HR and Communications, Ovivo Quick Facts AquaAction is a not-for-profit that empowers innovators and entrepreneurs to develop and deploy cutting-edge water technologies that drive sustainable solutions for water security. Through leadership development, coaching, and industry partnerships, we accelerate the growth of water-focused startups, foster collaboration, and champion water technology and innovation as pillars of economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and national security. Since its creation in 2022, AquaEntrepreneur has Supported for 46 Quebec companies Resulted in the completion of more than 20 pilot projects Resulted in the signing of more than 180 contracts in various municipalities, industrial sectors and Agtech AquaEntrepreneur is fully aligned with the guidelines of the Quebec Water Strategy 2018–2030 and the Quebec Research and Innovation Strategy (SQRI2). Located in the heart of Downtown Montréal, Ax.c is a vibrant gathering place for Québec's startup ecosystem, which joins together a critical mass of key stakeholders dedicated to innovative, technological entrepreneurship. It offers a multipurpose environment with meeting areas for events, collaborative workspaces, multiple opportunities for networking and interconnection as well as special access to various leading-edge resources, including a prototyping workspace. Quebec faces multiple water challenges: massive consumption, significant losses, environmental contamination, and potability issues. These issues translate into annual costs approaching $5 billion for Quebec municipalities. To be eligible for AquaEntrepreneur, companies must have innovative solutions that address economic security issues related to water within municipal, industrial, or ag-tech sectors. Other criteria include: Incorporated in Quebec Innovation ready for real-world deployment (TRL 7+) Strong economic, environmental, and/or social impact Strong growth and deployment potential Revenues less than CAD$5 million AquaAction's Impact since 2016: 100+ active water tech companies $200M+ in annual revenues $65M+ capital raised 400+ green jobs created The AquaEntrepreneur Companies: ACTI-ZYME PRODUCTS Ltd. William Powell & Jonathan Lee Develops ethical, eco-friendly solutions for treating biodegradable wastewater. Their Advanced Electrochemical Oxidation (OEA) technology removes up to 98% of phosphorus without chemicals, using sacrificial anodes that generate metallic ions and powerful oxidants. The system is compact, modular, and reduces sludge, making it ideal for municipal and industrial use. ELYTRA BIOMATÉRIAUX INC. Sergio Moreno, Roman Parra & Jonatan Mendez Uses machine learning to accelerate sustainable material innovation. Their BEAM SaaS platform predicts optimal formulations, reducing R&D cycles by up to 70%. BEAM helps water treatment firms improve additive efficiency, lower chemical usage, and achieve regulatory compliance while minimizing environmental impact. GROWCLEAN TECHNOLOGIES Mathieu Tanguay & Olivier Fortin Democratizes automated precision agriculture through a unique servomotor that controls multiple mechanical outputs. This reduces electronic complexity and lowers costs for farmers, while boosting crop quality and minimizing environmental impacts like water overuse and emissions. JUSTPURE INC. Jimmy Nazer, Arman Bosnakyan, Elkin Vanegas Aims to ensure access to clean water in homes and businesses while reducing plastic waste. Their high-quality water filters last 18 months and continue to function even during boil water advisories. They partner with cities to offer sustainable alternatives to bottled water. LALONDE SYSTHERMIQUE INC. Eric Lalonde Helps clients enhance steam usage efficiency to remain competitive while reducing environmental impact. Their RFVC tech lowers greenhouse gas emissions by over 15%, cuts water and chemical consumption by 50%, and reduces natural gas use by 15%, optimizing steam and condensate recovery. LEEDANA SANDPONICS Hassan Elrakhawy Revolutionizes desert agriculture with sandponics, a method using 90% less water than traditional farming. Their circular system reuses water up to 100 times annually using fish waste and specialized sand. Ideal for arid climates, urban greening, and low-footprint farming. NAUTI METRICS Jean-Christophe Champlain Modernizes aquatic environmental analysis with on-site tech. Their floating drones analyze 12+ water quality indicators in real time, conduct sampling, and use sonar for bathymetric data. The approach reduces plastic sample containers, simplifies logistics, and cuts carbon footprint. NISKAE INTERNATIONAL INC. Julien Quiblier Designs compact, standardized microstations for industrial wastewater recycling. Their systems treat and depollute wash water for safe release or reuse, cutting hazardous material storage and transport. Businesses can achieve ROI in 12–24 months while reducing overall water consumption. OZERO SOLUTIONS Matys Tessier Protects water bodies from invasive aquatic species to safeguard biodiversity and municipal infrastructure. Their washing station technology helps prevent the spread of species like zebra mussels, reducing ecological damage and infrastructure clogging. The mission supports environmental, economic, and social resilience in communities. PUREAU TECHNOLOGIES INC. Adel Boukhari Provides smart, turnkey water management solutions for buildings and municipalities. Using SenSeau sensors and the HydrolytiX AI platform, they offer real-time water quality monitoring and predictive maintenance. This ecosystem empowers infrastructure decisions while lowering maintenance costs and fostering strategic partnerships across the water cycle. RELOCALIZE Benjamin Chalier, Wayne McIntyre, Graham Campbell, Leigh Copp Develops autonomous micro-factories to locally produce ice-based goods at distribution centers, eliminating long-distance transport. This decentralized model improves water and energy efficiency, reduces waste, and integrates seamlessly with urban cold storage infrastructure—decarbonizing food logistics while enhancing local resource management. SERVICE ENVIRO SCAD INC. Songwen Xu Transforms organic waste like blue-green algae into stable, odorless material with industrial-scale potential. The SCAD system halts decomposition, removes odors, and improves municipal water quality. It offers centralized and mobile treatment options to address organic water pollution efficiently and sustainably. SOLUTIONS P-LOGIX INC. Patrick Lelievre Specializes in automating water treatment and biomethanization for Québec municipalities. Their centralized platform connects all stations and instruments, enabling remote diagnostics, maintenance planning, and incident prevention. P-Logix supports the digital evolution of public infrastructure while lowering costs and improving response time. TYPHA Alec Massé & Steven Squire Preserves peatlands and restores degraded wetlands by converting invasive plants like cattails (typha) into eco-friendly horticultural products. Their nature-based infrastructure improves municipal water quality and climate resilience. Typha's solution is affordable and scalable, ideal for rural communities facing droughts and floods. VALORIX Frédéric Vincent Offers a circular solution to agricultural runoff by transforming livestock manure into high-value renewable fertilizers. Their tech prevents nutrient leaching that causes blue-green algae, while recycling clean water as a byproduct. This model reduces GHG emissions and fosters local, sustainable fertilizer production.
