Aya Gold & Silver Pours First Silver at Expanded Zgounder Mine
PRESS RELEASE
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Aya Gold & Silver Pours First Silver at Expanded
Zgounder Mine
Montreal, Quebec, July 9, 2024 - 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
Benoit La Salle, FCPA, MBA
President & CEO
Alex Ball
VP, Corporate Development & IR
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.