Fortuna announces updated Technical Report for the Yaramoko Mine, Burkina Faso

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (NYSE: FSM) (TSX: FVI) is pleased to announce that it has prepared an updated NI 43-101 Technical Report for its Yaramoko Gold Mine located in Burkina Faso entitled "Yaramoko Gold Mine, Burkina Faso Technical Report”, with an effective date of December 31, 2021 prepared by Paul Criddle, FAusIMM, Paul Weedon, MAIG, Matthew Cobb, MAIG, and Craig Richards, P.Eng. The Technical Report will be available on the Company’s website, on SEDAR and on EDGAR.

The Yaramoko Gold Mine currently feeds mineralized material from two underground portals at the 55 Zone and Bagassi South mines, where long hole open stoping and cemented rock backfill is the mining method. Mined ore is fed to a conventional gold processing facility where the ore is crushed, milled and subject to carbon-in-leach extraction processes, prior to electrowinning and refining where gold is poured to doré bars.

Recent exploration drilling and a review of mine engineering designs in 2020 and 2021 supports the development of an open pit mine, at the completion of the 55 Zone underground mine, which includes the mining of near surface mineralization remaining in the crown pillar and remnant mineralization from earlier underground mining. Open pit mining would only commence at the conclusion of underground mining due to the need to remove certain key surface infrastructure associated with the underground mine. The updated Technical Report will disclose the current Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves reported as of December 31, 2021 and summarizes the scientific and technical evaluation that supports the current underground mine and proposed open pit operation.

Qualified Person

Eric Chapman, Senior Vice President of Technical Services of Fortuna, is a Professional Geoscientist of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia (Registration Number 36328) and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Chapman has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release and has verified the underlying data.

About Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.

Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. is a Canadian precious metals mining company with four operating mines in Argentina, Burkina Faso, Mexico and Peru, and a fifth mine under construction in Côte d'Ivoire. Sustainability is integral to all our operations and relationships. We produce gold and silver and generate shared value over the long-term for our stakeholders through efficient production, environmental protection, and social responsibility. For more information, please visit our website.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Jorge A. Ganoza
President, CEO and Director
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.

Investor Relations:
Carlos Baca | info@fortunasilver.com

Forward looking Statements

This news release contains forward looking statements which constitute "forward looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward looking statements” within the meaning of the "safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "Forward looking Statements”). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are Forward looking Statements and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the Forward-looking Statements. The Forward looking Statements in this news release may include, without limitation, statements about the Company’s filing of an updated technical report for the Yaramoko gold mine in Burkina Faso, plans for the development of an open pit mine at the Zone 55 upon completion of the Zone 55 underground mine; the timing of the commencement of the construction of the open pit mine at Zone 55; the Company’s business strategy, plans and outlook; the merit of the Company’s mines and mineral properties; mineral resource and reserve estimates; timelines; the future financial or operating performance of the Company; expenditures; approvals and other matters. Often, but not always, these Forward looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as "estimated”, "potential”, "open”, "future”, "assumed”, "projected”, "used”, "detailed”, "has been”, "gain”, "planned”, "reflecting”, "will”, "containing”, "remaining”, "to be”, or statements that events, "could” or "should” occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

Forward looking Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-looking Statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; the duration and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and workforce and the effects on the global economy and society; changes in prices for silver, gold and other metals; the success of the Company’s exploration program at the Yaramoko mine, the costs associated with the construction of an open pit mine, the availability of equipment technological and operational hazards in Fortuna’s mining and mine development activities; risks inherent in mineral exploration; fluctuations in prices for energy, labor, materials, supplies and services; fluctuations in currencies; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, mineral resources, and metal recoveries; our ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner for the construction of the open pit mine; governmental and other approvals; political unrest or instability in countries where Fortuna is active; labor relations issues; as well as those factors discussed under "Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Information Form. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward looking Statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to expectations regarding the accuracy of the Company’s mining studies and mining engineering designs, the costs and timing of the construction of the open pit mine, the timing of the receipt of all necessary approvals required for the construction of the open pit mine and that all required approvals will be obtained; expected trends in mineral prices and currency exchange rates; that the Company’s activities will be in accordance with the Company’s public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that there will be no significant disruptions affecting operations and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward looking Statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that Forward looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on Forward looking Statements.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Reserves and Resources

Reserve and resource estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for public disclosure by a Canadian company of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless otherwise indicated, all mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates contained in the technical disclosure have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves.

Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and mineral reserve and resource information included in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies.