Columbus Gold Provides Update on the Development of the Montagne d'Or Gold Mine

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 23, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Columbus Gold Corp. (CGT: TSX, CGTFF: OTCQX) ("Columbus") is pleased to provide an update on the development of the Montagne d'Or gold mine project, located in French Guiana, France.  The Montagne d'Or joint-venture (Columbus 44.99% and Nordgold 55.01%) achieved a major permitting milestone last November by providing its official decision to French authorities to move forward with permitting and development of the Montagne d'Or gold mine following the conclusion of the public hearings conducted under the mandate of the French National Commission of Public Debate (the "CNDP") (news release dated November 27, 2018).  The decision takes into account the recommendations of the CNDP to make certain project improvements and modifications.

In January 2019, the CNDP designated two guarantors responsible for the participation of the public in the project development up until the opening of the public inquiry for the permit applications.  The Montagne d'Or joint-venture is in preparation of tenders and scheduling for complementary studies for committed project modifications on the following technical components:

• Tailings storage facility redesign for the lowering of retainment dams;
  
  
• Waste rock storage design to prevent acid generation;

• Detailed water management/balance; and

• Feasibility level study for on-site hybrid solar energy production.

The current Montagne d'Or development timeline is as follows:

• 2017: Bankable Feasibility Study completion
  
  
• 2018: Public debate as part of permitting procedures, mine development decision
  
  
• 2019: Project improvements and modifications in line with the CNDP recommendations, detailed engineering of certain technical components required by regulations, such as tailings storage facility and water management
  
  
• 2020-21: Mining, environmental and construction permit application submittals and processing by the State services 

Upcoming Milestones

• In July 2018, the French government formed an inter-ministerial mission to assess the social and economic benefits, and the impacts, of the development of the gold mining industry in French Guiana, taking into consideration in particular Montagne d'Or, the most advanced large gold project in French Guiana.  The mission is a joint ministerial task-force under the direction of the French Ministers of Environment, of Economy and Finance, and of Overseas Territories.  The Montagne d'Or joint-venture worked closely with this task-force.

• The mission's report has made recommendations to the French government on the conditions for the development of the gold mining industry in French Guiana.  The report has not yet been released to the public.
  
  
• The Prime Minister of France, Édouard Philippe, announced in the local newspaper on March 25^th:
  
  
  • "the Government will soon appoint an official in charge of the gold industry in French Guiana";
    
    
  • "the Government is deeply convinced that it is possible to develop the resources on Guyanese soil in the best conditions on the environmental level, with the agreement of the Guyanese"; and
    
    
  • "a text on the reform of the mining code should also be presented to Parliament at year end".
    
    
• The Minister of Environment, François de Rugy, is expected to travel to French Guiana in June to announce the official position of the French government on the development of gold mining in French Guiana.

About Columbus Gold

Columbus is French Guiana's leading gold exploration and development company.  Columbus holds a major interest in the world-class Montagne d'Or gold deposit.  A feasibility study for Montagne d'Or was filed in May 2017, and the mine permitting process is currently underway.  Columbus is also earning into the Maripa gold exploration project where past drilling has returned excellent near surface results, including 36 meters of 4.3 g/t gold.  Columbus' objective is to assemble a portfolio of high-quality gold exploration projects in the highly prospective and underexplored Guiana Shield.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Rock Lefrançois
President & CEO

For more information contact:

Investor Relations
(604) 634-0970 or
1-888-818-1364
[email protected]

Certain statements and information contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are referred to collectively as "forward-looking statements". The United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.  Forward-looking statements in this and other press releases include but are not limited to statements and information regarding: its plans, or modifications thereunder, to develop Montagne d'Or ; the construction and development plans for the Montagne d'Or gold mine, including anticipated timing thereof; the satisfaction of additional requirements to the construction of the Montagne d'Or gold mine, including but not limited to, the submission and processing of mine permit applications; the delivery of a concluding report from the French joint ministerial task-force for Montagne d'Or; the timing and rendering of a decision regarding the development of the gold mining industry in French Guiana; and the earning into of the Maripa gold exploration project.  Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Some of the known risks and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are described in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Information Form of Columbus Gold Corp., available on SEDAR under Columbus' profile at www.sedar.com.  Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Columbus undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.