2024 Production Guidance

Ariana Resources plc ("Ariana" or "the Company"), the AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company with gold mining interests in Europe, is pleased to announce the production guidance for 2024 from its interest in the Zenit Mining Operations ("Zenit" or "the Project"). Zenit is 23.5% owned by Ariana through its shareholding in Zenit Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.S.

Highlights:

• Gold production guidance for 2024 from Zenit is expected to be c.20,000 ounces of gold*, inclusive of first gold production from the Tavsan Sector.
• Average monthly production is expected at approximately 25,000 tonnes of ore, with a stockpile of c.76,000 tonnes at c.2.2 g/t Au that is currently maintained on site.
• Ore throughput to the mill during 2024 is expected to be c.300,000 tonnes.
• Average grade of gold to be mined during the year is expected to be c.2.4 g/t Au and gold recovery is expected to average c.90%.
• Open-pit mining will continue largely at the Arzu North, Banu and Derya pits at Kiziltepe and at Tavsan Main during 2024.
• Kerim Sener, Managing Director, commented:

"We are very pleased to provide our production guidance for 2024 following several important developments at the Tavsan Sector in particular, and for the Company more broadly. As this announcement comes after the end of the first quarter of 2024, we are also pleased to report that the average gross revenue per ounce produced during Q1 2024 is US$2,328, attributable to the marked increase in gold and silver prices during the period. Accordingly, cash on hand within the Zenit partnership is currently c.US$10M, maintaining the strong debt-free position secured since June 2023, with >US$35M having been spent so far on the Tavsan mine build.

"Over the past few months, Zenit has been mining high-grade ore from the Tavsan Mine, intending to process this ore through the Kiziltepe processing plant. We are now pleased to report that trial gold production has been successful and consequently we are now in the position to state our guidance from the Zenit Mining Operations for 2024. All production results are to be reported on a consolidated basis going forward, with production from both Kiziltepe and Tavsan represented.

"In addition, we are expecting the rate of throughput of high-grade (>2.5 g/t Au) Tavsan ore to increase in the months ahead, compared to our guidance of c.1.7g/t Au for Kiziltepe alone last year. Further revisions to the Tavsan mine plan are underway to optimise the production of high-grade ore from the Main Zone and to potentially improve gold recovery from 87% to at least 90% through the CIL processing plant.

"With JORC Reserves at Zenit totalling 5.3Mt @ 1.46g/t Au and 9.81g/t Ag for 249koz Au and 1.67Moz Ag, we are demonstrating a pathway for up to ten further years of production from the Zenit Mining Operations. This is an extremely positive outcome and stands us in good stead to develop new opportunities, particularly our recently announced proposed acquisition of the Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, we are encouraged to note the significant interest that this has generated amongst our existing partners, and we look forward in conjunction with our partners to explore opportunities by which they may become involved in the development of Dokwe, as the project progresses towards feasibility."

* Silver production guidance is not provided, as silver is treated as a by-product credit. All figures are stated gross to the Project unless otherwise stated.

Summary of Project

The Kiziltepe gold-silver Mine was expected to deliver up to 20,000 oz gold per annum, as a CIL operation, over eight years of initial mine life from 2017 to 2024. The latest update to the Reserves in March 2024, enables the mine life to be extended further. The operating company, Zenit Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.S., is a partnership between Ariana (23.5%), Proccea (23.5%) and Ozaltin (53%), with management control being with Proccea. Commercial production was initiated at Kiziltepe during July 2017 and has continued without interruption, with production consistently being delivered above plan.

The latest Resource and Reserve estimate for Kiziltepe was based on recent drilling and geological interpretation in March 2024. Detailed technical and economic assessments are underway on several satellite vein systems not currently in the mining plan, in anticipation of these being developed in future years. The Kiziltepe operation is currently targeting a minimum ten-year total mine life and current Reserves are sufficient to enable production through to 2026. Further exploration and resource development work remains underway in the expectation that further extensions to mine life are possible.

The Tavsan gold-silver Mine is located 130 kilometres by road from Kiziltepe Mine and is being developed as a heap-leach operation. Following the approval of its Environmental Impact Assessment and associated permitting, Tavsan is being developed as Zenit's second gold mining operation in Turkey and is currently in construction, with mining having been underway since early 2024. An extended resource infill and extension drilling programme initiated in November 2022, was completed at Tavsan in 2024. The results of this drilling programme are being integrated into a revised Resource and Reserve estimate. An interim estimate was released in March 2024. Production of gold from the heap-leach at Tavsan is expected during late 2024.

Editors' Note: