Aya Gold & Silver Pours First Silver at Expanded Zgounder Mine

MONTREAL, July 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA; OTCQX: AYASF) (“Aya” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce that it has completed the inaugural silver pour at its expanded Zgounder Silver Mine in the Kingdom of Morocco.

• Highlights

• On July 2, the first silver pour was achieved:
  • First silver bars were poured with silver cement from the existing cyanidation plant.
  • First pour was an important step for the ongoing hot commissioning of the foundry and retort sub system.
• Commissioning activities are progressing to plan:
  • Low-speed testing of the ball mill is complete.
  • Hydrostatic tests have been performed on most water tanks, reactors and thickeners.
  • Preparation for wet commissioning is ongoing with some of the water circuit already tested.
  • Commissioning remains on schedule with ore feed to the mill expected in Q3-2024 and commercial production in Q4-2024.

“This pour marks another significant milestone in our expansion as we transition to full production by Q4-2024. Congratulations to the operations team at Zgounder for safely delivering this watershed moment,” said Benoit La Salle, President & CEO of Aya. “We are now focused on commissioning and ramping up the mill to nameplate capacity.”

Figure 1 – First Silver Pour at Zgounder

Figure 2 – Raising the Bar at Zgounder

About Aya Gold & Silver Inc.

Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a rapidly growing, Canada-based silver producer with operations in the Kingdom of Morocco.

The only TSX-listed pure silver mining company, Aya operates the high-grade Zgounder Silver Mine and is exploring its properties along the prospective South-Atlas Fault, several of which have hosted past-producing mines and historical resources. Aya’s Moroccan mining assets are complemented by its Tijirit Gold Project in Mauritania, which is being advanced to feasibility.

Aya’s management team has been focused on maximising shareholder value by anchoring sustainability at the heart of its operations, governance, and financial growth plans.

For additional information, please visit Aya’s website at www.ayagoldsilver.com.

Or contact

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”), which reflects management’s expectations regarding Aya’s future growth and business prospects (including the timing and development of new deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as “expected”, “on schedule”, “reduce”, “to improve”, “ensure”, ,and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will”, or are “likely” to be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements and information with respect to advancement of the commissioning work according to Aya’s plan. Although the forward-looking information contained in this press release reflect management’s current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Aya cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions, and its expectations of future developments that management believe to be reasonable and relevant but that may prove to be incorrect. These assumptions include, among other things, the ability to obtain any requisite governmental approvals, obtaining regulatory permits for on-site work, importing goods and machinery and employment permits, the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Estimates (including, but not limited to, ore tonnage and ore grade estimates), the price of silver, the price of gold, exchange rates, fuel and energy costs, future economic conditions, anticipated future estimates of free cash flow, and courses of action. Aya cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements.

The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including government approvals and permitting, changes in economic conditions, changes in the worldwide price of silver gold and other key inputs, changes in mine plans (including, but not limited to, throughput and recoveries being affected by metallurgical characteristics) and other factors, such as project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of Aya, as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in Aya’s 2023 Annual Information Form dated March 28, 2024, and in other filings of Aya with securities and regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Aya does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs, and opinions change. Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Aya securities. All references to Aya include its subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/583d1966-abf5-40d8-a311-c96d2e7c35ca

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3ab2c87a-03db-4adc-a859-ffcf46e72043