Wheaton Precious Metals Awards $1 Million to Cetos Water for Mining Wastewater Technology

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE: WPM) (TSX: WPM) has announced Cetos Water as the winner of its second annual Future of Mining Challenge, awarding US$1 million for technology that converts mining wastewater into clean, reusable water. The 2025 challenge focused on sustainable water management solutions and was delivered in partnership with the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business. Cetos Water's low-energy, solvent-based approach aims to enable more efficient water reuse at mine sites, supporting discharge compliance and reducing tailings liabilities while addressing water scarcity constraints.

The significance of this award extends beyond the financial prize, representing a crucial step toward addressing one of mining's most pressing environmental challenges. Mining operations globally face increasing pressure to manage water resources responsibly, particularly in water-stressed regions where operations compete with local communities and ecosystems for limited supplies. The technology developed by Cetos Water could potentially transform how mining companies approach water management, turning what was once considered waste into a valuable resource that can be reused within operations or safely returned to the environment.

Wheaton also recognized pH7 Technologies and H2nanO as finalists in the competition, highlighting the growing innovation in sustainable mining technologies. The company confirmed that the third edition of the challenge will focus on technologies that reduce land impact through more efficient mining and processing, with applications for the 2026-2027 program opening later this year. This ongoing commitment to innovation reflects Wheaton's broader strategy of supporting technologies that can make mining more sustainable while maintaining economic viability.

The Future of Mining Challenge represents part of Wheaton's approach to responsible mining practices, as detailed in their corporate communications available at https://ibn.fm/WPM. By investing in technologies like Cetos Water's wastewater conversion system, Wheaton aims to help the mining industry address environmental challenges while continuing to deliver the commodities society needs. The company's streaming business model positions it uniquely to influence industry practices across its portfolio of mining partners worldwide.

For the broader mining industry, the development of effective wastewater treatment technologies has significant implications for regulatory compliance, community relations, and operational costs. As environmental regulations tighten globally and communities demand more responsible water management, technologies that can efficiently convert mining wastewater into reusable water could become essential for maintaining social license to operate. The success of Cetos Water's approach could potentially set new standards for water management across the extractive industries, influencing practices beyond precious metals mining to other sectors facing similar challenges.