Brio Gold Reports On Production Of Three Brazilian Mines

TORONTO, ON - Brio Gold Inc. reported that production during the year of 2017 from the Company's three producing mines, in Brazil, was lower than the comparative year of 2016 by 6% due to lower production at the Fazenda Brasileiro Mine and the Pilar Mine, partially offset by higher production at the RDM Mine.

At the Fazenda Brasileiro Mine, the annual production in 2017 was 60,978 ounces of gold, 14% lower than the same period last year primarily due to lower feed grades from mine sequencing. The grade in the fourth quarter improved significantly over the previous quarter and the Company expects grade to continue to show improvements in 2018. For 2018, the Company expects production at the Fazenda Brasileiro Mine to be 65,000 to 75,000 ounces of gold.

The Pilar Mine, lower overall grade was a result of increased production from the lower grade Maria Lazara deposit. During the fourth quarter, the company started restructuring the operation, which included halting development at Maria Lazara. The Company is now mining out the developed reserves at Maria Lazara and will be focusing production going forward on the higher grade HG1 and HG2 zones at the main Pilar mine as well as the development of the Tres Buracos open pit. The Maria Lazara mine currently has one year of developed reserves that will be mined out in 2018 and the satellite operation will then be put on care and maintenance. Pilar is expected to produce 65,000 to 75,000 ounces of gold in 2018.

RDM Mine was put on care and maintenance for close to 5 months in 2017 due to a lack of water. The new water dam/reservoir is operating well, as the region's rainy season allowed adequate water reserves to build up. The operation has been running continuously since December 1st and the company expects that to continue into the foreseeable future. Consistent production at low cost is expected going forward, with Brio Gold forecasting a full year of production at RDM in 2018 with guidance set at 75,000 to 85,000 ounces of gold.