to maintain satisfactory labour relations. In addition, relations between the Company and its employees and contractors may be affected by changes in labour and employment laws. Changes in such
legislation or in the relationship between Minera Juanicipio and its employees and contractors may have a material adverse effect on the Companys business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects.
The continued operation of Juanicipio may be adversely impacted by lack of access and availability of infrastructure, power and water, and other
matters.
The continued operation of Juanicipio will require access to and an ability to maintain adequate and reliable infrastructure, including
roads, power sources and water systems. If the required infrastructure is not readily available, it may have to be built, and there is no assurance that it can be built in a timely manner or at all. There is no assurance that the Juanicipio Entities
can access and maintain the infrastructure needed, or, where necessary, obtain rights of way, government authorizations and permits to construct, or upgrade the same at a reasonable cost, in a timely manner, or at all. Access to infrastructure may
also be interrupted by natural causes, such as drought, floods, earthquakes and other weather phenomena, or man-made causes, such as blockades, sabotage, conflicts, government issues, political events,
protests, rationing or competing uses, as well as global pandemics.
Inadequate, inconsistent or costly infrastructure could compromise many aspects of
the projects feasibility, viability and profitability, including, but not limited to the capital and operating costs.
Amendments to the
federal labour law on labour subcontracting (or outsourcing) may impact the Companys operations.
Labour reform legislation on
subcontracting and outsourcing in Mexico was published on April, 23, 2021 (the Reform). The Reform amends several Mexican laws, including the Federal labour law, and seeks to, amongst other things, regulate outsourcing as follows:
(i) to prohibit the use of subcontracting as it has historically been used in Mexico; and (ii) to allow an exception for specialized services under regulated circumstances. This Reform legislation came into effect on September 1,
2021.
The Reform changes are not expected to have a significant impact on the viability of Juanicipio. However, with various restrictions on hiring
contractors, Fresnillo, as operator, internalized a portion of its workforce and now performs much of the development work directly rather than outsourcing it to contractors, and hence invested in equipment not previously planned to be utilized in
underground operations.
Other general tax amendments are referred to under the risk factor titled Mexican Foreign Investment and Income Tax
Laws apply to the Company below.
Juanicipio development decisions and production results may differ from those envisaged in
the 2024 Technical Report.
The actual scope, operating results and production results of Juanicipio may differ from the scope, operation results
and production results envisaged in the 2024 Technical Report. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not demonstrate economic viability and there is no certainty that mineral resources will ever become mineral reserves. There can be no
certainty that the results in the 2024 Technical Report will be realized. Fresnillo is the project operator and the actual continued exploration, operation and production may be materially different than as contemplated in the 2024 Technical Report.
As a result, there are additional risks as to the extent of capital and operating costs, mineral recovery and financial viability of the project.
The Company may encounter certain transportation and refining risks that could have a negative impact on its operations.
Mined materials and mineral concentrates containing combinations of metals that are produced at the Juanicipio Mine are transported to refiners and smelters.
This type of process involves certain environmental and financial
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