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NOTE 8 — ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION:

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Peruvian operations:

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The Company maintains an asset retirement obligation for its mining properties in Peru, as required by the Peruvian Mine Closure Law. In accordance with the requirements of this law, the Company’s closure plans were approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines (“MINEM”). The closure cost recognized for this liability includes the cost, as outlined in its closure plans, of dismantling the Toquepala and Cuajone concentrators, the Ilo smelter and refinery, and the shops and auxiliary facilities at the three units. As part of the closure plans, the Company is required to provide annual guarantees over the estimated life of the mines, based on a present value approach, and to furnish the funds for the asset retirement obligation. This law requires a review of closing plans every five years.

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Currently, the Company has pledged the value of its Lima office complex for 27% of the guarantee and with a stand-by letter of credit for the other 73% as a security for this obligation. Through January 2025, the Company has provided total guarantees of $98.5 million.

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On July 20, 2021, the Peruvian Government published Law 31347, which requires companies in the production stage to set aside additional guarantees for progressive closure of its operations. The resources that back these guarantees will be returned to the Company when activities cease and the regulatory agency verifies that all closure measures have been satisfactorily completed. Under this Law, companies must include activities for environmental remediation within the closure schedule and assume costs associated with environmental impacts that are identified during audits. On March 19, 2025, the regulation attached to this Law was published. This new regulation establishes a three-year period to update the guarantee constitution table, including the main components of progressive closure. The Company is initiating the corresponding actions to comply with this new requirement within the established time frame, but does not expect this Law to have a material effect on its financial statements.

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In April 2024, the Company adjusted its estimate for the asset retirement obligation due to an update of the closure plan for its Ilo facility. The effect was a decrease of $3.2 million in the asset retirement obligation.

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Mexican operations:

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The Company has recognized an estimated asset retirement obligation for its mining properties in Mexico as part of its environmental commitment. Even though there is currently no enacted law, statute, ordinance, written or oral contract requiring the Company to carry out mine closure and environmental remediation activities, the Company believes that a constructive obligation presently exists based on the remediation requirements caused by the closure of any facility. The overall cost recognized for mining closure in Mexico includes the estimated costs of dismantling concentrators, smelter and refinery plants, shops and other facilities.

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In December 2024, the Company adjusted its estimate for the asset retirement obligation for its Mexican operations, mainly due to a detailed review of the closing activities required and an update to life-of-mine plans for the Buenavista operations. The effect was a decrease in the asset retirement obligation to the order of $119.2 million.

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The following table summarizes the asset retirement obligation activity for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (in millions):

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