Exploration activities on EPL 7688 for base and rare metals, industrial minerals, and precious metals in the Otjozondjupa and Oshikoto regions. Votorantim Metals provides metal and mineral mining services worldwide; a company such as Nexa Resources is an investor within Votorantims’ portfolio. Votorantim undertakes mineral exploration in Namibia and proposes to undertake low impact exploration activities on EPL 7688. In terms of Section 32 (1) of the Environmental Management Act, No. 7 of 2007, ECC has determined that the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) is the competent authority for the proposed exploration project as it triggers the following listed activity that falls within the jurisdiction and mandate of MME: Forestry activities - The clearance of forest areas, deforestation, aforestation, timber harvesting or any other related activity that requires authorisation in term of the Forest Act, 2001 (Act No. 12 of 2001) or any other law. o Limited vegetation clearing of bush-encroached areas may be required for tracks and survey access creation, and possibly for the set up for survey teams’ field camps. Mining and Quarrying activities - The construction of facilities for any process or activities which requires a licence, right or other forms of authorisation, and the renewal of a licence, right or other forms of authorisation, in terms of the Minerals (Prospecting and Mining Act), 1992. o The proposed project has obtained an EPL from MME; now requires an environmental clearance from DEA/MEFT for the search for base and rare metals, industrial minerals and precious metals. o Minerals (e.g. soil and sand), will be sampled within selected target areas of the project area. Water resource development - The abstraction of ground or surface water for industrial or commercial purposes o Groundwater will be required for diamond drilling of exploration boreholes. Due to the nature of the proposed project, the potential limited effects on the environment and society and the implementation of industry best practice mitigation measures, ECC has undertaken a high-level environmental assessment in order to produce an environmental assessment report and environmental management plan as per attached. Scale and scope of activity: Exploration activities shall take place within the boundaries of EPL 7688. The following activities are likely to take place: - Soil sampling at 400m x 100m spaced intervals - Regional geological mapping - Limited vegetation clearing for the creation of tracks; - Potential creation of cut-lines for geophysical surveys; - Opening access tracks in bush-encroached areas, where there are not sufficient existing tracks; and - Drilling exploration boreholes.