Western Provides Casino Project Update
TSX: WRN
NYSE American: WRN
NEWS RELEASE
December 13, 2018 Release 07-2018
WESTERN PROVIDES CASINO PROJECT UPDATE
VANCOUVER, B.C. Western Copper and Gold Corporation ( “Western” or the “ Company”) (TSX : WRN ;
NYSE A merican: WRN ) is pleased to provide an update on Casino Project activities. The Company
completed a number of important permitting activities in 2018 and plans to continue advancing the Casino
Project in 2019.
PERMITTING & ENGINEERING
In 2018, t he Company continued to work towards preparing its environmental assessment application,
known as the Environmental and Socio- Economic ( “ESE”) Statement for submission to the Yukon
Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (“YESAB”). Most of the Company’s activities were
focused on the Best Available Tailings Technology (“BATT”) Study, but Western also completed a number
of First Nation Traditional Land Use Studies, continued its baseline data collection program, and conducted
a number of smaller environmental studies.
The results of the BATT Study were announced on November 5, 2018. The BATT Study was an 18-month
process that will become an essential component of the ESE Statement for the Casino Project. During this
process, the participants selected the option for disposal of tailings and mine waste considered to be the
Best Available Technology for the Casino Project, taking into account environmental, technical, economic,
and social considerations.
Traditional Land Use Studies have now been completed for all First Nations identified by YESAB as being
potentially impacted by the Casino Project. The se studies took place over the past two years and are
central to the assessment of effects of the Casino Project and are therefore a critical step in the completion
of the ESE Statement.
The Company has initiated engineering activities to incorporate the outcomes of the BATT Study into the
tailings management facility design. As a result of the additional engineering work and other considerations,
the Company has informed YESAB that it will be deferring the submission of its ESE Statement.
INFRASTRUCTURE
In 2017, the Federal and Yukon Governments announced commitments to fund the upgrade of 82 km of
the existing access road to standards required for the Casino Project, as well as to fund 30% of the
additional 126 km of new access road to the Casino site. Recent statements from the Yukon Government
indicate that they expect to commence work on the upgrade of the existing access road in 2019, beginning
with a bypass around the town of Carmacks. The bypass will minimize the amount of mine traffic travelling
through Carmacks.
“The work that the team has accomplished in 2018 cannot be overstated. The Traditional Land Use and
BATT Studies were long lead-time studies that were essential to complete before finalizing our ESE
Statement.” said Paul West-Sells, President & CEO, “The Casino Project is now considerably de-risked
and we will continue our efforts to move the project forward in 2019.”
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.
On behalf of the board,
“Paul West-Sells”
Dr. Paul West-Sells
President and CEO
Western Copper and Gold Corporation
For more information, please contact:
Chris Donaldson
Director, Corporate Development
604.638.2520 or [email protected]
Cautionary Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information
This news release contains certain forward- looking statements concerning anticipated developments in
Western’s operations in future periods. Statements that are not historical fact are “forward- looking
statements” as that term is defined in the United Stat es Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and “forward looking information” as that term is defined in National Instrument 51-102 (“NI 51-102”) of the
Canadian Securities Administrators (collectively, “forward- looking statements”). Certain forwar d looking
information should also be considered future-oriented financial information (“FOFI”) as that term is defined
in NI 51 -102. The purpose of disclosing FOFI is to provide a general overview of management’s
expectations regarding the anticipated results of operations and capital expenditures and readers are
cautioned that FOFI may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are frequently,
but not always, identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends” , “estimates”,
“potential”, “possible” and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results “will”, “may”,
“could” or “should” occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited
to, statements regar ding perceived merit of properties; mineral reserve and resource estimates; capital
expenditures; feasibility study results (including projected economic returns, operating costs, and capital
costs in connection with the Casino Project); the Facility, its design, and that design enhancements will
have the intended effect ; budgets; permitting or other timelines; economic benefits from the mine and/or
the access road; strategic plans; market price of precious and base metals; or other statements that are
not statement of fact. The material factors or assumptions used to develop forward- looking statements
include prevailing and projected market prices and foreign exchange rates, exploration estimates and
results, continued availability of capital and financing, construction and operations, the Company not
experiencing unforeseen delays, unexpected geological or other effects, equipment failures, permitting
delays, and general economic, market or business conditions and as more specifically disclosed throughout
this document, and in the AIF and Form 40-F.
Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual
results, performance or achievements of Western and its subsidiaries may differ materially from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward- looking statements due to a
variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks
involved in fluctuations in gold, copper 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 esti mates and
estimated economic return; risks related to joint venture operations; risks related to cooperation of
government agencies and First Nations in the development of the property and the issuance of required
permits; risks related to the need to obtain additional financing to develop the property and uncertainty as
to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in construction projects and
uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely avai lability of permits and
other governmental approvals; and other risks and uncertainties discl osed in Western’s AIF and Form 40 -
F, and other information released by Western and filed with the applicable regulatory agencies.
Western’s forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management
on the date the statements are made, and Western does not assume, and expressly disclaims, any intention
or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. For the reasons
set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.