Paterson Province – Applications for New Licences

First Development Resources PLC

20 January 2026

 

20 January 2026

First Development Resources plc

("First Development", "FDR" or the "Company')

Paterson Province - Applications for New Exploration Licences

First Development Resources plc (AIM: FDR), the UK-based, Australia-focused exploration company with mineral interests in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, is pleased to announce that it has applied for three new Exploration Licences in the Paterson Province of Western Australia.

The new applications, E45/7205, E45/7206 and E45/7207, are located immediately to the east of the Company's existing Wallal Project licences (Figure 1) and cover ground previously held by Rio Tinto Exploration.

Figure 1: FDR's New Exploration Licence applications pending approval. Paterson Province, Western Australia

The statutory objection period under the Mining Act 1978 (WA) for the new licences closed on 12 and 13 January 2026, and the Company confirms that no objections were lodged in that statutory period.

The licence applications are now being assessed by the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE) in Western Australia to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, including environmental and land use considerations.

In parallel, FDR is engaging with relevant Traditional Owner groups as part of the Aboriginal Heritage Act and Native Title Act consultation process to ensure that exploration activities respect cultural heritage.

Any future exploration work will only proceed once all statutory approvals, including relating to Native Title and heritage clearances, have been secured.

Once granted, these licences will further consolidate FDR's strategic land position in the highly prospective Paterson Province and enhance the Company's exploration footprint in the region. The Company looks forward to advancing exploration planning in a responsible and compliant manner.

For further information visit www.firstdevelopmentresources.com or contact the following:

First Development Resources plc Tristan Pottas (CEO)	Tel: [phone]
Beaumont Cornish Limited Nominated Adviser Roland Cornish / Asia Szusciak	Tel: [phone]
SI Capital Limited Broker Nick Emerson	Tel: [phone]

Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.

ABOUT FIRST DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

First Development Resources' assets comprise eight granted tenements covering a total area of 2,314.4km². Five of the tenements, comprising three prospective copper-gold projects, are located in Western Australia (WA) while the remaining three tenements, comprising a rare-earth element (REE), uranium, lithium and gold project, are located in the Australian's Northern Territory. All tenements are wholly owned by FDR. The assets are a mixture of drill ready and earlier stage exploration.

The WA Projects include the Company's Wallal Project as well as Ripon Hills and Braeside West Projects situated in the Paterson Province, which is widely regarded as one of the most productive regions in Australia for the discovery of world-class gold-copper deposits, and which is home to several world-class mines and more recent discoveries.

The Selta Project in the Northern Territory is located in an area considered highly prospective for uranium and rare-earth element mineralisation along with base and precious metal mineralisation. Numerous companies are actively exploring within the region.

Beyond the existing portfolio, FDR is actively looking to expand its portfolio through the acquisition of early-stage exploration projects in Australia.

 

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