Taseko Mines Limited TASEKO: INCREASE IN GIBRALTAR PROVEN & PROBABLE RESERVES

 
TIDMTKO 
 
TASEKO ANNOUNCES A 40% INCREASE IN GIBRALTAR PROVEN AND PROBABLE RESERVES 
 
VANCOUVER, BC, March 30, 2022 - Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO) (NYSE MKT) 
(TGB; LSE: TKO) ("Taseko" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a new 706 
million ton proven and probable sulphide reserve for the Gibraltar Mine, a 40% 
increase as of December 31, 2021. The new reserve estimate allows for a 
significant extension of the mine life to 23 years with total recoverable metal 
of 3.0 billion pounds of copper and 53 million pounds of molybdenum. 
 
Highlights from the new reserve: 
 
  * 706 million tons grading 0.25% copper 
  * Recoverable copper of 3.0 billion pounds and 53 million pounds of 
    molybdenum 
  * 23 year mine life with average annual production of approximately 129 
    million pounds of copper and 2.3 million pounds of molybdenum 
  * Life-of-mine average strip ratio of 2.4:1 
  * After-tax NPV8 of $1.1 billion (75% basis) and free cash flow of $2.3 
    billion (75% basis) at a long-term copper price of US$3.50 per pound1 
 
Note: Taseko's 75% owned Gibraltar Mine is located north of the City of 
Williams Lake in south-central British Columbia. All dollar amounts are in 
Canadian dollars (C$) and units are imperial unless stated otherwise. 
 
Stuart McDonald, President and CEO, commented, "Gibraltar has been our 
cornerstone asset since it was restarted 17 years ago, and with the extended 
mine life we expect it will continue to generate significant cashflow for many 
years to come.  Over the last two years there has been a dramatic shift in the 
long-term outlook for copper, as the world accelerates the transition to a 
green economy.  With the improved market outlook, our engineering team updated 
pit designs which have added 200 million tons of additional reserves to the 
life of mine plan.  The mine now has a 23-year mine life with significant 
leverage to copper prices going forward.  At current copper prices, the mine 
NPV increases to over $2 billion (75% basis, after-tax)." 
 
Richard Tremblay, Senior VP, Operations, added, "The additional tons in the new 
reserve are at a similar grade as Gibraltar's previous reserves. While the life 
of mine strip ratio has increased slightly, there has been no change to the 
mine plan over the next five years where copper production is expected to 
average approximately 128 million pounds per year. The updated pit designs are 
based on a conservative long-term copper price of US$3.05 per pound (previously 
US$2.75 per pound), and incorporate material that was previously classified as 
resources." 
 
Mr. McDonald concluded, "Recent market activity and global events continue to 
show the value of a long-life, steady-state copper mine in a top mining 
jurisdiction. With our near-term growth plans in Arizona, and longer-term 
development projects in British Columbia, Taseko is very well positioned to 
build a North America based mid-tier copper producer." 
 
1 The NPV and cash flow is based on copper prices of $4.25 (2022), $3.90 (2023) 
and US$3.50 per pound long-term, and a molybdenum price of US$18 (2022), US$15 
(2023) and US$13 per pound long-term and a foreign exchange rate of 1.3:1 (C$: 
US$). 
 
 
 
  Gibraltar Mine Sulphide Mineral Reserves as of December 31 , 2021 at 0.15% 
                                Copper Cut-off 
 
Category                      Tons (millions)  Cu Grade   Mo Grade (%)  Cu Eq. 
                                                  (%)                     (%) 
 
Proven                              509          0.25        0.008       0.27 
 
Probable                            191          0.23        0.008       0.24 
 
Ore Stockpiles                       6           0.18        0.007       0.20 
 
Total Proven and Probable           706          0.25        0.008       0.26 
 
 1. Mineral Reserves follow CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and 
    Mineral Reserves (2014). 
 2. Sulphide Mineral Reserves are exclusive of Oxide Mineral Reserves and are 
    contained within Mineral Resources. 
 3. Mineral Reserves are assumed to be extracted using open pit mining methods 
    and are based on US$3.05/lb Cu price, $12.00/lb Mo price, exchange rate of 
    US$0.80=C$1.00, metallurgical recoveries of 85% Cu and 40% Mo for sulphide 
    ore and 50% ASCu for oxide ore. 
 4. A tonnage factor of 12ft3/ton has been applied for rock and 15ft3/ton for 
    overburden and fill. 
 5. Copper Equivalency based on US$3.50/lb price and 85% metallurgical recovery 
    for copper, and US$13.00/lb price and 50% metallurgical recovery for 
    molybdenum.  CuEq can be calculated using the formula CuEq% = Cu% + Mo% x 
    2.185. 
 6. Numbers may not add due to rounding. 
 
   Gibraltar Mine Mineral Resources as of December 31 , 2021 at 0.15% Copper 
                                    Cut-off 
 
Category                       Tons (millions)  Cu Grade  Mo Grade (%)  Cu Eq. 
                                                   (%)                    (%) 
 
Measured                             845          0.25        0.007      0.27 
 
Indicated                            370          0.23        0.007      0.25 
 
Total Measured and Indicated        1,215         0.24        0.007      0.26 
 
Inferred                              78          0.22        0.004      0.23 
 
 1. Mineral Resources follow CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and 
    Mineral Reserves (2014). 
 2. Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves. 
 3. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated 
    economic viability. 
 4. The Mineral Resource has been confined by a "reasonable prospects of 
    eventual economic extraction" pit using the following assumptions: Cu price 
    of US$3.50/lb, Mo price of US$14.00/lb, exchange rate of US$0.80=C$1.00, 
    metallurgical recoveries of 85% for Cu and 40% for Mo. 
 5. A tonnage factor of 12ft3/ton has been applied for rock and 15ft3/ton for 
    overburden and fill. 
 6. Copper Equivalency based on US$3.50/lb price and 85% metallurgical recovery 
    for copper, and US$13.00/lb price and 50% metallurgical recovery for 
    molybdenum.  CuEq can be calculated using the formula CuEq% = Cu% + Mo% x 
    2.185. 
 7. Numbers may not add due to rounding. 
 
Gibraltar Mine Oxide Mineral Reserves as of December 31, 2021 at 0.10% ASCu 
Cut-off 
 
Category                                             Tons     ASCu (%) 
 
Proven                                               1        0.15 
 
Probable                                             16       0.15 
 
Ore Stockpiles                                       0        0.15 
 
Total Proven and Probable                            17       0.15 
 
 1. Mineral Reserves follow CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and 
    Mineral Reserves (2014). 
 2. Oxide Mineral Reserves are exclusive of Sulphide Mineral Reserves and are 
    contained within Mineral Resources. 
 3. Mineral Reserves are assumed to be extracted using open pit mining methods 
    and are based on US$3.05/lb Cu price, $12.00/lb Mo price, exchange rate of 
    US$0.80=C$1.00, metallurgical recoveries of 85% Cu and 40% Mo for sulphide 
    ore and 50% ASCu for oxide ore. 
 4. A tonnage factor of 12ft3/ton has been applied for rock and 15ft3/ton for 
    overburden and fill. 
 5. Numbers may not add due to rounding. 
 
Qualified Persons and 43-101 Disclosure 
 
This technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by 
Richard Weymark, P.Eng., MBA, Vice President, Engineering of Taseko. Mr. 
Weymark is a Qualified Person under the provisions of National Instrument 
43-101 published by the Canadian Securities Administrators. 
 
The resource and reserve estimation was completed by Taseko and Gibraltar Mine 
staff and contributing consultants under the supervision of Richard Weymark, P. 
Eng., MBA. Vice President, Engineering of Taseko and a Qualified Person under 
National Instrument 43-101. 
 
Additional information regarding data verification procedures, known legal, 
political, environmental or other risks can be found in the Technical Report 
dated March 30, 2022, titled 'Technical Report on the Mineral Reserve Update at 
the Gibraltar Mine' which is available on SEDAR. 
 
Note to United States Investors 
 
This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 
securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of 
United States securities laws. Canadian reporting requirements for disclosure 
regarding mineral properties are governed by National Instrument 43-101 - 
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities 
Administrators ("NI 43-101").  For this reason, information contained in this 
news release regarding the Company's Gibraltar Mine may not be comparable to 
similar information made public by United States companies subject to the 
reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States securities laws 
and the rules and regulations thereunder. 
 
For further information on the differences between the disclosure requirements 
for mineral properties in the United States and NI 43-101, please refer to the 
company's Annual Information Form, a copy of which has been filed under 
Taseko's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the company's Form 40-F, a copy 
of which will be filed on EDGAR at www.edgar.com. 
 
Stuart McDonald 
President and CEO 
 
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information 
contained in this news release. 
 
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION 
 
This document contains "forward-looking statements" that were based on Taseko's 
expectations, estimates and projections as of the dates as of which those 
statements were made. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be 
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", 
"anticipate", "project", "target", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", 
"should" and similar expressions. 
 
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, 

uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, 
level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from 
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These included 
but are not limited to: 
 
  * uncertainties about the future market price of copper and the other metals 
    that we produce or may seek to produce; 
  * changes in general economic conditions, the financial markets, inflation 
    and interest rates and in the demand and market price for our input costs, 
    such as diesel fuel, reagents, steel, concrete, electricity and other forms 
    of energy, mining equipment, and fluctuations in exchange rates, 
    particularly with respect to the value of the U.S. dollar and Canadian 
    dollar, and the continued availability of capital and financing; 
  * uncertainties resulting from the war in Ukraine, and the accompanying 
    international response including economic sanctions levied against Russia, 
    which has disrupted the global economy, created increased volatility in 
    commodity markets (including oil and gas prices), and disrupted 
    international trade and financial markets, all of which have an ongoing and 
    uncertain effect on global economics, supply chains, availability of 
    materials and equipment and execution timelines for project development; 
  * uncertainties about the continuing impact of the novel coronavirus 
    ("COVID-19") and the response of local, provincial, state, federal and 
    international governments to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, on our 
    operations (including our suppliers, customers, supply chains, employees 
    and contractors) and economic conditions generally including rising 
    inflation levels and in particular with respect to the demand for copper 
    and other metals we produce; 
  * inherent risks associated with mining operations, including our current 
    mining operations at Gibraltar, and their potential impact on our ability 
    to achieve our production estimates; 
  * uncertainties as to our ability to control our operating costs, including 
    inflationary cost pressures at Gibraltar without impacting our planned 
    copper production; 
  * the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover 
    material mining or operational risks; 
  * uncertainties related to the feasibility study for Florence copper project 
    (the "Florence Copper Project" or "Florence Copper") that provides 
    estimates of expected or anticipated capital and operating costs, 
    expenditures and economic returns from this mining project, including the 
    impact of inflation on the estimated costs related to the construction of 
    the Florence Copper Project and our other development projects; 
  * the risk that the results from our operations of the Florence Copper 
    production test facility ("PTF") and ongoing engineering work including 
    updated capital and operating costs will negatively impact our estimates 
    for current projected economics for commercial operations at Florence 
    Copper; 
  * uncertainties related to the accuracy of our estimates of Mineral Reserves 
    (as defined below), Mineral Resources (as defined below), production rates 
    and timing of production, future production and future cash and total costs 
    of production and milling; 
  * the risk that we may not be able to expand or replace reserves as our 
    existing mineral reserves are mined; 
  * the availability of, and uncertainties relating to the development of, 
    additional financing and infrastructure necessary for the advancement of 
    our development projects, including with respect to our ability to obtain 
    any remaining construction financing potentially needed to move forward 
    with commercial operations at Florence Copper; 
  * our ability to comply with the extensive governmental regulation to which 
    our business is subject; 
  * uncertainties related to our ability to obtain necessary title, licenses 
    and permits for our development projects and project delays due to third 
    party opposition, particularly in respect to Florence Copper that requires 
    one key regulatory permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
    ("EPA") in order to advance to commercial operations; 
  * our ability to deploy strategic capital and award key contracts to assist 
    with protecting the Florence Copper project execution plan, mitigating 
    inflation risk and the potential impact of supply chain disruptions on our 
    construction schedule and ensuring a smooth transition into construction 
    once the final permit is received from the EPA; 
  * uncertainties related to First Nations claims and consultation issues; 
  * our reliance on rail transportation and port terminals for shipping our 
    copper concentrate production from Gibraltar; 
  * uncertainties related to unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings; 
  * changes in, and the effects of, the laws, regulations and government 
    policies affecting our exploration and development activities and mining 
    operations and mine closure and bonding requirements; 
  * our dependence solely on our 75% interest in Gibraltar (as defined below) 
    for revenues and operating cashflows; 
  * our ability to collect payments from customers, extend existing concentrate 
    off-take agreements or enter into new agreements; 
  * environmental issues and liabilities associated with mining including 
    processing and stock piling ore; 
  * labour strikes, work stoppages, or other interruptions to, or difficulties 
    in, the employment of labour in markets in which we operate our mine, 
    industrial accidents, equipment failure or other events or occurrences, 
    including third party interference that interrupt the production of 
    minerals in our mine; 
  * environmental hazards and risks associated with climate change, including 
    the potential for damage to infrastructure and stoppages of operations due 
    to forest fires, flooding, drought, or other natural events in the vicinity 
    of our operations; 
  * litigation risks and the inherent uncertainty of litigation, including 
    litigation to which Florence Copper could be subject to; 
  * our actual costs of reclamation and mine closure may exceed our current 
    estimates of these liabilities; 
  * our ability to meet the financial reclamation security requirements for the 
    Gibraltar mine and Florence Project; 
  * the capital intensive nature of our business both to sustain current mining 
    operations and to develop any new projects, including Florence Copper; 
  * our reliance upon key management and operating personnel; 
  * the competitive environment in which we operate; 
  * the effects of forward selling instruments to protect against fluctuations 
    in copper prices, foreign exchange, interest rates or input costs such as 
    fuel; 
  * the risk of changes in accounting policies and methods we use to report our 
    financial condition, including uncertainties associated with critical 
    accounting assumptions and estimates; and Management Discussion and 
    Analysis ("MD&A"), quarterly reports and material change reports filed with 
    and furnished to securities regulators, and those risks which are discussed 
    under the heading "Risk Factors". 
 
For further information on Taseko, investors should review the Company's annual 
Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission 
www.sec.gov and home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com, 
including the "Risk Factors" included in our Annual Information Form. 
 
For further information on Taseko, please visit the Taseko website at 
www.tasekomines.com or contact: Brian Bergot, Vice President, Investor 
Relations - 778-373-4533 or toll free 1-877-441-4533 
 
 
 
END 
 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 31, 2022 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)