Horizonte Minerals Plc announced that it has awarded the industrial civil works contract for the construction of its 100%-owned Araguaia Nickel Project to Companhia Paranaense deConstrução S.A. ("Copa").Copa is a leading Brazilian construction company with extensive experience in mining projects and civil infrastructure. It was also awarded the earthworks services contract at the Project earlier this year. Copa has demonstrated a safe and reliable operating performance at the Project to date, with a track record of creating employment opportunities for local community members.

All its contracted services have been delivered ahead of schedule. Copa's track record is complemented by its extensive experience in delivering civil construction projects for several large mining and industrial clients across Brazil. These projects range from roads, viaducts, hydroelectric powerplants, ports, dam's and industrial plants.

In total the company has installed a portfolio of more than 2.5 billion cubic meters of concrete throughout Brazil and all with the requisite quality management certification. The award of the industrial civil works contract is another important step in the construction of Araguaia. The scope of the contract incorporates the supply and installation of the process plant foundations and related civil works for the supporting infrastructure.

The contract scope has been designed to leverage Copa's reduced mobilisation requirements and familiarity with the Project. This will assist to accelerate the installation of the foundations for the furnace allowing commencement of furnace shell installation during fourth quarter 2022. The civils package will also see Copa undertaking the installation of all engineered and concrete structures for the processing facility, including piling, structural foundations, concrete slabs, and bolted connections to enable process equipment to be directly installed.

A full progress update on Araguaia will be provided in September.