BEN.L Regulatory News (BEN)

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information pursuant to Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as amended.

22 September 2022

Bens Creek Group plc

("Bens Creek" or the "Company")

Permit approval

Bens Creek Group plc (AIM:BEN), the owner of a metallurgical coal mine in North America supplying the steel industry, is delighted to provide an update on the status of its permit application following the last update issued by the Company on 25 July 2022.

As previously notified, an application for a permit to mine a much larger area than is currently being mined by the first highwall miner was submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection in West Virginia ("WVDEP") and has been in the final stages of being approved by the WVDEP. This application has now been approved by the WVDEP and Bens Creek Operations WV LCC, the Company's wholly-owned operating subsidiary, has been granted the permit with an effective date of 21 September 2022.

The granting of the permit is for an initial five year period and will now allow Bens Creek to deploy a second highwall miner that is to be operated by the Company's highwall mining contractor. This will enable the Company to steadily increase its production of metallurgical coal from current levels as it seeks to achieve its monthly production targets, as previously announced.

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