14 January 2026

EQTEC plc

("EQTEC" or the "Company")

Complementary strategic expansion

Waste to value technology remains the foundation for diversified growth

Lenders supporting strategy progression

EQTEC plc (AIM: EQT), a provider of syngas technology and engineering services for the clean conversion of waste into sustainable energy and biofuels, announces a strategic update: the Company is building on its gasification foundation with a vertically integrated, capital-light strategic expansion into complementary assets central to global electrification, supported by constructive lender engagement on the progressive strategy.

Waste-to-value Technology Platform

EQTEC's proprietary gasification technology - which converts waste and low-value biomass into syngas, power, heat and renewable fuels without incineration - remains the cornerstone and focus of the Company's long-term strategy. The technology addresses three structural market needs simultaneously: decarbonisation, landfill diversion and energy security.

The Board remains confident that, over time, a portfolio of commissioned reference plants will unlock scalable, repeatable commercial returns. With several material project wins anticipated near-term, the Company is now building on this foundation by seeking to add complementary exposure to circular economy materials which are central to global electrification-introducing the potential for earlier cash-flow inflection points while the gasification pipeline matures.

Progressive Strategy: Supply Chain Exposure

EQTEC is expanding into the acquisition and development of capital-light resource assets, targeting exposure to critical and precious metals central to global electrification-including copper, gold, rare earth elements and specialty resources essential to grid infrastructure and the energy transition - while progressing with its core strategy, gasification technology.  Recent leadership appointments with extractive industry backgrounds have enabled the acceleration of this strategic broadening.

The strategic rationale includes:

·      Shared end markets: Critical metals and EQTEC's gasification technology serve the same structural demand drivers-renewable power, electrification and energy storage. The Company's waste-to-value solutions support distributed, low-carbon generation; critical metals supply the infrastructure those systems require.

·      Circular economy coherence: Both business lines align with circular economy principles. Gasification diverts waste and displaces fossil fuels; responsibly developed metals enable the hardware underpinning decarbonisation. Together, they position EQTEC across complementary segments of the energy transition value chain.

Rationale: Near-Term Cash Flow, Disciplined Entry

The Company believes that selective exposure to resources complementary to its core strategy can provide multiple new value-creation and cash-flow inflection points during the period in which gasification projects progress from development to full operational scale. For example, critical metals assets typically offer shorter development timelines, defined operational milestones and earlier revenue generation than large-scale infrastructure projects. For EQTEC, this vertically-integrated strategy creates the potential for multiple cash-flow inflection points during the period in which gasification projects progress toward full commercial operation with recurring revenues.

EQTEC will prioritise sustainable opportunities that are:

·      Cash generative or near-term production

·      Capital-light at entry with limited upfront commitment

·      Situated in established, lower-risk mining jurisdictions

·      Positioned for value uplift through operational discipline

The Company already has an active pipeline under evaluation.

Lender support

The Company confirms that its lenders are supportive of the strategic broadening outlined above and that it is in advanced discussions with them regarding a comprehensive restructuring of the Company's existing debt facilities with the objective of materially deleveraging the balance sheet, improving liquidity and aligning the capital structure with the Company's focus on developing a complementary near-term cash-flow profile alongside its longer-term growth objectives.

These discussions are ongoing and there can be no certainty as to final terms or achievement of a definitive restructuring; however, the Board believes that the alignment between lenders and the Company on its broadened strategy is constructive and supportive.

Board Update

David Palumbo has informed the Board that, following the proposed strategic expansion of EQTEC's activities, he believes the time is right to transition the Chairmanship to a successor with direct experience across both technology and complementary asset resources. Mr Palumbo will therefore transition to Non Executive Chairman with immediate effect and remain as Chairman until a suitable appointment is made, ensuring continuity and an orderly handover.

James Parsons, Chief Executive Officer of EQTEC, commented:

"Since joining EQTEC, my focus has been on sharper execution, capital discipline and commercial outcomes, and that remains unchanged. I am confident in the medium-term potential of our gasification technology and team and in its ability to deliver scalable returns as multiple reference plants come onstream.

At the same time, the opportunity set in sustainable complementary critical and precious metals is significant. Selective, capital-light exposure allows us to balance the portfolio and introduce nearer-term value inflexion points while remaining aligned with the same electrification and decarbonisation drivers. This leverages off my experience building, financing and operating asset-backed energy transition businesses with a clear focus on returns-while gasification continues to mature as the long-term value engine of the Group."

Further announcements will be made as appropriate.

This announcement contains inside information as defined in Article 7 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014, as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended, and has been announced in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of that Regulation.

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