Western Copper and GOLD Provides Infrastructure Update
WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD PROVIDES
INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE
VANCOUVER, BC
,
April 10, 2025
/CNW/ - Western Copper and Gold Corporation ("Western" or the "Company")
(TSX: WRN) (NYSE American: WRN) is pleased to provide an update on several infrastructure initiatives supporting
the development of its
Casino
Copper-Gold Project ("
Casino
Project").
Sandeep Singh
, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "Infrastructure is obviously a key piece of the puzzle to
bring the
Casino
Project into production. Reciprocally, the
Casino
Project is an important lynchpin to improve the
infrastructure of the
Yukon
and the neighboring north. The required initiatives will take time to unfold, but we are
pleased with the overall direction of travel with respect to infrastructure and with the
Yukon
government's commitment
to sustainable mining.
Further, these past several weeks have clearly been disruptive and volatile from an overall economic standpoint. But
that volatility has also underscored two specific positive aspects of the
Casino
Project. First, we have often said that
the copper-gold commodity mix makes our project highly resilient. That resilience has shown itself to be incredibly
valuable in the last year as the gold price has risen nearly
US$750
per ounce. Second, we believe that the
groundswell of support politically for mining, and a growing understanding of its role in a more self-reliant Canadian
economy, also bodes well for the
Casino
Project."
B.C.-Yukon Grid Connect Project
On
September 17, 2024
, Natural Resources Canada ("NRCan") conditionally approved
$40 million
in funding to
advance pre-feasibility work for a high-voltage transmission energy corridor connecting the isolated
Yukon
electrical
grid to the North American grid in
British Columbia
. Western is pleased to report that the conditions for this funding
have been met by the Yukon Development Corporation ("YDC"), an entity of the Government of
Yukon
, which
included a 25% YDC funding commitment over and above the
$40 million
from NRCan. Subsequently, a contribution
agreement with NRCan was officially signed in
Ottawa
on
February 14, 2025
, where project planning activities have
since commenced. With its significant industrial load, the
Casino
Project is central to the concept behind the grid
connection – its advancement signals confidence in the
Casino
Project's potential and its role in shaping the
Yukon's
future infrastructure. While Western continues to advance LNG as the
Casino
Project's base case power solution, the
Company looks forward to working alongside YDC and First Nations to help make the grid connection a success.
Yukon Resource Gateway Project
On
March 22, 2025
, the Government of
Yukon
announced the inclusion of the Dempster Highway in the Yukon
Resource Gateway Project ("Gateway Project"), expanding the scope of the initiative to include Arctic security and
regional connectivity. Whilst positive for the
Yukon
, a portion of funding previously allocated to the
Casino
Copper-
Gold Access Road has been redirected to support this near-term priority. Western remains in close collaboration with
the
Yukon
government, and discussions on future funding are expected to advance as the project moves through the
environmental assessment process, which includes the road.
Port of Skagway Transportation Study
Western has completed an updated transportation study evaluating options for shipping concentrate from the
Casino
Project to the Port of Skagway ("Skagway"). The study, conducted in collaboration with the Municipality of
Skagway and the Government of
Yukon
, assessed both bulk and containerized transportation methods, assessed
infrastructure requirements at Skagway, and provided feasibility-level capital and operating cost estimates across
multiple scenarios. Several promising transportation alternatives were identified, with costs broadly in-line with, or
lower than, the Company's 2022 feasibility study estimates.
ABOUT WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD CORPORATION
Western Copper and Gold Corporation is developing the
Casino
Project,
Canada's
premier copper-gold mine in the
Yukon Territory
and one of the most economic greenfield copper-gold mining projects in the world. For more
information, visit
www.westerncopperandgold.com
.
The Company is committed to working collaboratively with our First Nations and local communities to progress the
Casino
Project, using internationally recognized responsible mining technologies and practices.
On behalf of the board,
"Sandeep Singh"
Sandeep Singh
President and CEO
Western Copper and Gold Corporation
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively
"forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and
United States
securities legislation
including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are
made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by
words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages",
"potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "opportunities", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative
of any of these terms and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements herein include statements
regarding the timing, funding, and progress of infrastructure initiatives, including the B.C.-Yukon Grid Connect
Project, the Yukon Resource Gateway Project, and transportation options to the Port of Skagway. These statements
are based on current information and interpretations, which may evolve as discussions with governments continue
and additional technical and environmental work is undertaken.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include
but are not limited to the risk of unforeseen challenges in advancing the
Casino
project, potential impacts on
operational continuity, changes in general market conditions that could affect the Company's performance; and
other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's annual information form and Form 40-F for the most
recently completed financial year and its other publicly filed disclosure documents.
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not
limited to the timely advancement of infrastructure initiatives, the continued support and collaboration of the
Yukon
government and other stakeholders, the availability of funding for such initiatives, and such other assumptions and
factors as set out herein, and in the Company's annual information form and Form 40-F for the most recently
completed financial year and its other publicly filed disclosure document.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those contained in forward-looking statements, other factors may cause results to be materially different from
those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. These forward-looking statements represent the
Company's views as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking
statements will be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The
Company does not intend to and does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements other than
as required by applicable law.
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For further information:
For more information, please contact: Cameron Magee, Director, Investor Relations &
Corporate Development, Western Copper and Gold Corporation, 437-219-5576 or
CO: Western Copper and Gold Corporation
CNW 07:30e 10-APR-25