Orvana Announces First Doré BAR from Don Mario Plant Restart
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For Immediate Release TSX:ORV
Date: March 10, 2026 #07-2026
ORVANA ANNOUNCES FIRST DORÉ BAR
FROM DON MARIO PLANT RESTART
Highlights
• First doré bar produced from legacy sulfide ore processed through the Au-Ag circuit as part of the
Don Mario restart.
• Milestone confirms successful restart of the Au-Ag circuit following upgrades.
• Completion of construction and commissioning of the Cu circuits remains the key near -term
milestone.
• Oxide stockpile processing is expected to begin thereafter, with ramp-up through Q3 FY2026 and
target full operating capacity in Q4 FY2026.
• The restart of the Don Mario plant is a key step toward processing oxide material stockpiled during
previous years of mining at the operation.
TORONTO, ONTARIO, March 10, 2026 - Orvana Minerals Corp. (TSX:ORV) (the " Company" or
"Orvana") announces that its Bolivian subsidiary, Empresa Minera Paitití S.A. ( "EMIPA"), has produced
its first doré as part of the phased restart of the Don Mario Plant. Following completion of performance
verification of the comminution and thickening circuits, and upgrades to the Au-Ag desorption and smelting
areas, EMIPA commenced operational trials by processing legacy sulfide ore through the Au- Ag circuit,
resulting in the production of the first doré bar.
"Producing the first doré bar marks an important milestone in restarting the Don Mario plant ," said Juan
Gavidia, Chief Executive Officer of Orvana.
"This achievement confirms that the Au-Ag circuit is operating as expected following refurbishment and
upgrades. Achieving this milestone during a period of strong gold and silver prices further underscores the
strategic importance of bringing Don Mario back into operation. Our focus now is on completing
construction and commissioning of the Cu circuits required to process the oxide stockpiles and advancing
the phased integration of all processing circuits to support oxide stockpile ramp-up and achievement of full
operating capacity" he added.
Photo 1: Dore bar from the first gold pour after the Don Mario Plant Restart
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Photo 2: First gold pour from the restart of Don Mario Plant
Photo 3: Don Mario Director of Operations, post-first pour
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Photo 4: View of Don Mario Plant, in the Don Mario district, south-eastern Bolivia
Oxides Stockpile Project
The Don Mario operation, located in the Don Mario district in southeastern Bolivia, is owned and operated
by EMIPA, Orvana’s Bolivian subsidiary. Mining and milling operations at Don Mario were temporarily
suspended in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 following depletion of the mineral reserves then being mined.
The Company is now advancing the Oxides Stockpile Project ("OSP"), which is designed to process oxide
material that was stockpiled during previous years of mining at Don Mario. The project includes an
expansion and upgrade of Don Mario Processing Plant to optimize the recovery of copper, gold and silver
from these stockpiles.
The OSP consists of three components:
(i) plant expansion proper , including new circuits for acid leaching, filtering, solvent extraction
and electrowinning to produce Cu cathodes, and enhancement of the pre-existing Au-Ag detox
circuits;
(ii) overhaul of legacy comminution (ore crushing and grinding) and thickening circuits; and
(iii) business-readiness initiatives, including upgrades to power generation, chemical and
metallurgical laboratories, warehouses and workshops, and the recruitment and training of
new personnel.
Don Mario Processing Plant - Restart Progress
In December 2025, EMIPA commenced verification of the Don Mario Plant gold-silver (Au-Ag) circuit. The
Company has completed performance verification of the comminution and thickening circuits, as well as
upgrades to the Au- Ag desorption and smelting areas. Following these upgrades, the circuit is now
processing legacy sulfide ore and has produced its f irst doré bar as part of this process. This milestone
confirms the operational readiness of key portions of the Au-Ag circuit and forms part of the broader phased
restart of the Don Mario processing plant.
Next Operational Milestones
The next operational milestones are the completion of construction and commissioning of the Cu circuits
and the phased integration of all processing circuits. Processing of the oxide stockpiles is expected to
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begin thereafter and ramp up progressively through the third quarter of fiscal 2026, with the objective of
achieving full operating capacity during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical content of this news release was reviewed, verified, and approved by Luis Isla,
Chief of Geology of EMIPA, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure
for Mineral Projects. Mr. Isla is an employee of EMIPA and is not independent of the Company within the
meaning of NI 43-101.
About Orvana – Orvana is a multi -mine gold -copper-silver company. Orvana’s assets consist of the
producing El Valle and Carlés gold- copper-silver mines in northern Spain, the Don Mario gold- silver
operation in Bolivia, and the Taguas property located in Argentina. Additional information is available at
Orvana’s website (www.orvana.com).
For further information please contact:
Nuria Menéndez
Chief Financial Officer
Cautionary Statements – Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking
information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding restart, construction, commissioning and ramp-up of the Don Mario
plant, including the expected timing for completion of plant circuits, initiation of oxide stockpile processing, and achievement of full
operational capacity.
Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions as of the
date of this news release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements
of historical fact and are generally identified by words such as " believes", "expects", "plans", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates",
"forecasts", "projects", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will", or similar expressions.
A variety of risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by forward- looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, am ong
others: delays or difficulties in obtaining or maintaining necessary permits and authorizations (including environmental and tailings-
related authorizations); the impact of global economic and geopolitical conditions; fluctuations in the price of gold, silver and copper;
variations in ore grades, metallurgical recoveries and throughput; failure to achieve production estimates or guidance; increases in
operating costs (including energy, power and environmental compliance costs); availability of qualified personnel; risks generally
associated with mineral exploration and development; the Company’s ability to successfully complete the implementation and
commissioning of processing circuits and ancillary facilities at Don Mario (including the copper circuit and any acid leaching circuit
and related facilities); the Company’s ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms when required; challenges to the Company’s
property interests and mineral rights; and legislative, regulatory, political, social and economic developments in the countries in which
the Company operates. Additional risks are described in the Company’s most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis and
Annual Information Form, available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions, and except as
required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.