London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - September 14, 2026) - Meridian Mining plc (LSE: MNO) (TSX: MNO) (FSE: N2E0) (Tradegate: N2E0) (OTCQX: MRRDF) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its inclusion in the VanEck Junior Gold Miners ("GDXJ") Exchange Traded Fund ("ETF") following the GDXJ's quarterly review and rebalancing announced on September 11, 2026, effective at the close of markets on September 18, 2026.

The GDXJ is the leading global ETF providing investors exposure to precious metals through junior mining equities. The ETF tracks the most liquid small and mid-capitalisation companies primarily involved in the mining and development of gold and silver assets.

Mr. Gilbert Clark, CEO, comments: "Inclusion in the GDXJ, a globally recognised ETF is a significant milestone, reflecting Meridian's increased visibility as an investment opportunity. This is a testament to the progression and de-risking of the advanced staged Cabaçal Project. We believe inclusion in the GDXJ index will further improve trading liquidity increasing access to a wider universe of institutional and retail investors seeking exposure to the gold sector and that benchmark against the GDXJ."

For more information on the VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF, please visit:

https://www.vaneck.com/US/EN/INVESTMENTS/JUNIOR-GOLD-MINERS-ETF-GDXJ/overview/

About Meridian

Meridian Mining is focused on:

• The development and exploration of the advanced-stage Cabaçal VMS gold‐copper project;

• Expanding the initial resource inventory at the Santa Helena area through extension of Santa Helena Central, and new discoveries;

• Regional-scale exploration of the Cabaçal VMS Belt to expand the Cabaçal Hub strategy; and

• Exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone Belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil).

The Pre-feasibility Study technical report (the "PFS Technical Report") dated March 31, 2025, entitled: "Cabaçal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Pre-feasibility Study" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 984 million and 61.2% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 248 million, leading to capital repayment in 17 months (assuming a metals price scenario of USD 2,119 per ounce of gold, USD 4.16 per pound of copper, and USD 26.89 per ounce of silver). Cabaçal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 742 per ounce gold equivalent & production profile of 141,000 ounces of gold equivalent life of mine, driven by high metallurgical recovery, a low life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.3:1, and the low operating cost environment of Brazil.

The Cabaçal Mineral Reserve estimate in the PFS consists of Proven and Probable reserves of 41.7 million tonnes at 0.63g/t gold, 0.44% copper and 1.64g/t silver (at a 0.25 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade).

Readers are encouraged to read the PFS Technical Report in its entirety. The PFS Technical Report may be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.meridianmining.co.

The PFS Technical Report was prepared for the Company by Tommaso Roberto Raponi (P. Eng), Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC; Scott Elfen (P. E.), Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC; John Anthony McCartney, C.Geol., Ausenco Chile Ltda.; Porfirio Cabaleiro Rodriguez (Engineer Geologist FAIG), of GE21 Consultoria Mineral; Leonardo Soares (BSc Geo, MAIG), Senior Geological Consultant of GE21 Consultoria Mineral; Norman Lotter (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.Eng.), of Flowsheets Metallurgical Consulting Inc.; and, Juliano Felix de Lima (Engineer Geologist MAIG), of GE21 Consultoria Mineral.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining plc

Mr. Gilbert Clark - CEO and Director

Meridian Mining plc
8th Floor, 4 More London Riverside
London SE1 2AU
United Kingdom

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Further information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedarplus.ca. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise.

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