Bec Acknowledges the Required Landowner Support FOR Bcl Application Not Met Announcement to the Toronto Stock Exchange and Australian Stock Exchange

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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR

DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

BEC ACKNOWLEDGES THE REQUIRED LANDOWNER SUPPORT FOR BCL

APPLICATION NOT MET

ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE

AND AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

27 DECEMBER 2017

The Board of RTG Mining Inc. (“RTG”, “the Company”) ( TSX Code: RTG, ASX Code:

RTG) refers to the ABG press release which was reported in the following link:

http://bougainville.typepad.com/newdawn/2017/12/211217state-on-panguna-mine-by-

aloysius-laukaipress-realease-the-president-of-the-autonomous-bougainville-

government-chief.html and which was posted at 6:56pm on Friday 22 nd December

2017.

RTG notes that the ABG has announced that the Bougainville Executive Council

(“BEC”) has confirmed that the B ougainville Copper Limited (“BCL”) Application for

extension of the term of its expired exploration licence EL 1 (“Extension Application”)

covering the old Panguna mine did not receive the necessary consent of the Special

Mining Lease Osikaiyang Landowners Association (“ SMLOLA”) Landowners, which is a

basic requirement under the Bougainville Mining Act (“BMA”) for approval of such an

application.

For the sake of clarity, the Warden’s Hearing addressed only the question as to whet her

or not there was the required Landowner support for the BC L Extension Application. It

did not address the alternative proposal by RTG and the Landowner lead consortium.

On behalf of both RTG and the SMLOLA we thank the ABG for supporting and

endorsing the long held position of the SMLOLA leadership, who have worked tirelessly

to protect its members (the customary owners of the land on which the old Panguna

mine is located) from the return of BCL . This culminated in the successful Warden ’s

Hearing lead by Mr Philip Miriori, where a clear majority of landowners confirmed they

were firmly opposed to any return of BCL.

The President of the ABG, the Honourable Dr John Momis has said that his government

will consult with the Panguna Landowners on an appropriate arrangement or the best

alternative model for the development of the Panguna Mine. RTG further notes the

ABG has also sought to impose a moratorium over the gr ant of new licenses over

Panguna, whilst that consultation process progresses.

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We have been advised that under the BMA a moratorium can only be implemented if

there is no existing exploration licence. For that to be the case, it implies the BCL

Extension Application is considered to be at an end. The press release by the Presiden t

of Bougainville, the Honourable Dr John Momis however does not address or comment

on that point and BCL has today announced that it has not been advised of the status of

its purported application and is seeking clarification.

The legal advice that the L andowner controlled and le ad consortium has received, is

that the BCL EL cea sed to exist more than 15 months ago given the extension

application was no valid , long before the introduction of the moratorium. Consequently

the legal advice is that the E xploration Licence (“EL”) Application lodged by the

consortium, should have been registered and processed in accordance with the BMA,

which would predate the moratorium recently announced by the ABG.

We appreciate, given the near term plans to continue with the Referendum on

Independence, as supported by the recent Joint Supervisory Body Meeting between the

Governments of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea , the ABG may believe time is

needed to properly consider the matter, which th e moratorium could provide. The

reopening of Panguna is important for the economic development of Bougainville and

as such is supported by the majority of Bougainvilleans. President Momis has also

recognised the need to secure strong landowner support and maintain peace and unity

among all Bougainvilleans.

Notwithstanding the above legal position , the SMLOLA and RTG concur with the

desires of the ABG to explore and deliver a solution for Panguna that will ensure

harmony and a successful new mine, supported by the majority of landowners.

Mr Philip Miriori, the Chairman of the SMLOLA said, "We want to thank President

Momis and our ABG for listening to and respecting the Landowner opposition to BCL's

return. The Panguna community broadly wants the mine to reopen. We welcome very

much the statement of the President that the ABG will now consult with the Panguna

Landowners to determine the best alternative model for the development of Panguna."

Both the SMLOLA and RTG continue to believe the future of Panguna is best

determined by discussion and negotiation with all parties and our submissions to the

ABG provide a sound and realistic development strategy that remains the only

application that has received the support of the SMLOLA.

ABOUT RTG MINING INC

RTG Mining Inc. is a minin g and exploration company listed on the main board of the

Toronto Stock Exchange and Australian Securities Exchange Limited. RTG is focused

on a proposal with a landowner lead consortium to secure an exploration licence at the

high tonnage copper -gold Pan guna Project in Bougainville PNG and the high grade

copper/gold/magnetite Mabilo Project in the Philippines, while also identifying major new

projects which will allow the Company to move quickly and safely to production.

RTG has an experienced management team which has to date developed seven mines

in five different countries, including being responsible for the development of the

Masbate Gold Mine in the Philippines through CGA Mining Limited, and has B2Gold as

one of its major shareholders in the Compan y. B2Gold is a member of both the

S&P/TSX Global Gold and Global Mining Indices.

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ENQUIRIES

Australian Contact US Contact

President & CEO – Justine Magee Investor Relations – Jaime Wells

Tel: +61 8 6489 2900 +1 970 640 0611

Fax: +61 8 6489 2920

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

CAUTIONARY NOTE STATEMENT

This announcement includes certain “forward -looking statements” within the meaning of

Canadian and applicable securities legislation. Statement regarding interpretation of

exploration results, plans for further exploration and accuracy of mineral resource and

mineral reserve estimates and related assumptions and inherent operatin g risks, are

forward-looking statements. Forward -looking statements involve various risks and

uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no

assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and f uture

events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important

factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RTG’s expectations

include uncertainties related to fluctuations in gold and other commodity prices and

currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the

geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital

and operating costs, recovery rates, production estimates and estimated ec onomic

return; the need for cooperation of government agencies in the development of RTG’s

mineral projects; the need to obtain additional financing to develop RTG’s mineral

projects; the possibility of delay in development programs or in construction proj ects

and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for RTG’s mineral projects

and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in RTG’s

Annual Information Form for the year ended 31 December 2016 filed with the Canad ian

securities regulatory authorities on the SEDAR website at sedar.com. The forward ‐

looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on

which the statements are made. RTG will not release publicly any revisions or updates

to these forward ‐looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated

events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by

any appropriate regulatory authority.