Orezone Gold pours first gold at Bombore expansion

Mr. Patrick Downey reports OREZONE REPORTS FIRST GOLD FROM BOMBORE HARD ROCK EXPANSION Orezone Gold Corp. has completed the first gold pour from the company's new 2.5-million-tonne-per-year hard-rock expansion. Patrick Downey, president and chief executive officer, stated: "Commissioning of this plant is now complete, with mill throughput averaging 78 per cent of nameplate capacity for the first five days of operations, resulting in first gold on Dec. 15. "I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all involved in the construction and commissioning of the Bombore hard-rock expansion. Their dedication, hard work and commitment to excellence have safely delivered the Stage 1 expansion on time and on budget over a construction period of approximately 12 months. This is a commendable achievement, reflecting an industry-leading level of project delivery. "Commercial production is expected to be declared in early Q1 2026 and will represent a major milestone for Orezone, with overall gold production at Bombore set to increase by 45 per cent to 170,000 to 185,000 ounces in 2026. This will mark a significant cash flow inflection point, underscored by the company's solid balance sheet and record high gold prices." About Orezone Gold Corp. Orezone Gold is a West African gold producer engaged in mining, developing and exploring the Bombore gold mine in Burkina Faso. Combined production from the oxide and Stage 1 hard-rock operations is forecasted to total between 170,000 and 185,000 ounces in 2026. The company is also advancing Stage 2 of the hard-rock expansion, which is forecasted to increase annual production to between 220,000 and 250,000 ounces. Qualified persons and competent person statement The scientific and technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Rob Henderson, PEng, vice-president of technical services, and Dale Tweed, PEng, vice-president of engineering, both of whom are qualified persons as defined under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and competent persons as defined under the JORC (Joint Ore Reserves Committee) Code (2012 edition). Each of Mr. Henderson and Mr. Tweed has sufficient experience that is relevant to the scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release and to the type of activity undertaken to qualify as competent persons as defined in the JORC Code. Both are employees of the company and have consented to the inclusion in this announcement of all technical information based on their work the form and context in which it appears. We seek Safe Harbor.