| WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD AND CASINO MINING PROVIDE UPDATE ON YUKON ACTIVITIES AND PERMITTING PROCESS VANCOUVER, B.C. Western Copper and Gold Corporation (“Western” or the “Company”) (TSX: WRN; NYSE American: WRN), through its wholly owned subsidiary Casino Mining Corp. is pleased to provide an update on the process to permit its wholly-owned Casino copper-gold project (“Casino” or “Project”) and other activities in the Yukon that impact the Project. The Yukon Government has commenced construction of the Carmacks Bypass Project, required for Casino’s construction and operation, following award of the contract in November 2021 (see Press Release dated November 9th, 2021). The Carmacks Bypass will allow industrial vehicles to circumvent the Village of Carmacks; reducing heavy traffic and increasing community safety, while improving access to the Casino Project site located approximately 200 km from the community. Advancing permitting, the Company has retained leading Canadian environmental consultancy firm Hemmera to lead preparation of an Environmental and Socio-economic Statement (“ESE Statement”) for the Casino Project. The ESE Statement, which is anticipated for submission to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (“YESAB”) in the second quarter of 2023, is a key component in YESAB’s assessment process for the proposed Casino Project. Hemmera, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. with primary office locations in Vancouver, Whitehorse, Burnaby, Victoria, Calgary, Toronto, and Halifax and a strong project presence in Northern and Western Canada. Hemmera is managing the regulatory process for Newmont Corporation’s Coffee Gold Mine Project (“Coffee”). Earlier this year, YESAB issued its recommendation that Coffee proceed. Coffee is located 20 km from the Casino Project. “The Casino Project continues to advance with construction starting on the Carmacks Bypass and bringing in Hemmera to lead our ESE statement preparation.”, stated Dr. Paul West-Sells, President and CEO. “Hemmera’s team, many of whom are based in Whitehorse, know the Yukon’s regulatory environment and socio-economic situation well. Their team, like ours, understands the importance of engagement and consultation with First Nations and communities to ensure our Project reflects Yukoners’ priorities and values.” Since 2016, when the Casino Project was referred to Panel Review by YESAB, Casino has continued to advance the Project by engaging with affected Yukon First Nations governments and communities, completing several Traditional Knowledge and environmental studies, conducting several drill campaigns, and finalizing a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) on the Project. The PEA includes important refinements to many Casino Project components, including to the tailings and waste management infrastructure, which incorporated improvements identified by the Best Available Tailings Technology Study (“BATT Study”) completed in 2018 with participation by Yukon First Nations, YESAB and the Yukon Government. In October 2021, Casino engaged the services of M3 Engineering & Technology Corporation to conduct a Feasibility Study of the Casino Project, which remains on schedule to be complete in the second quarter of 2022. |
