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Taseko Reports Third Quarter 2023

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This release should be read with the Company's Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A"), available at www.tasekomines.com and filed on www.sedar.com . Except where otherwise noted, all currency amounts are stated in Canadian dollars. Taseko's 87.5% owned Gibraltar Mine is located north of the City of Williams Lake in south-central British Columbia. Production and sales volumes stated in this release are on a 100% basis unless otherwise indicated.

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 1, 2023 -- Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO) (NYSE American: TGB) ( LSE: TKO) ("Taseko" or the "Company") reports third quarter 2023 Adjusted EBITDA* of $63 million and Earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization* of $65 million. Adjusted net earnings* for the quarter were $20 million, or $0.07 per share.

Gibraltar produced 35 million pounds of copper and 369 thousand pounds of molybdenum in the third quarter, 26% and 60% higher than the second quarter, respectively. Improved production was a result of higher grades, throughput and recoveries. Higher production, of both copper and molybdenum, drove Total operating costs (C1)* down 17% to US$2.20 per pound.

Adjusted EBITDA* increased by 182% over the prior quarter despite third quarter sales volumes being impacted by a port workers strike in July. The excess inventory at the end of the third quarter is expected to be shipped and sold in the fourth quarter.

Stuart McDonald, President and CEO of Taseko, commented "In the third quarter a major milestone was achieved at our Florence Copper project; receipt of the final Underground Injection Control permit from the US Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). This week the EPA confirmed that no appeals or objections have been received and that the permit is now effective. This is a great result and evidence of the quality and integrity of the project.

We are now preparing for construction and site preparation will begin later in the fourth quarter. Florence financing discussions are well advanced and the additional financings are expected to close in early 2024, and then wellfield drilling will commence."

Mr. McDonald continued, "We are pleased with Gibraltar's performance in the third quarter. Copper head grade increased to 0.26% in the period as the lower benches of the Gibraltar pit provided the higher grades and more consistent mineralized zones we expected. Mill performance was also strong as copper recoveries averaged 85% and the softer ore in the Gibraltar pit helped to achieve a throughput rate over 87,000 tons per day, 10% higher than the first half of 2023. The Gibraltar pit will continue to be our main source of ore through the middle of 2024, providing us with predictable and consistent mill feed. The operation remains on track to meet the original 2023 production guidance of 115 million pounds of copper (+/-5%)."

We continue to have our copper put protection in place US$3.75 per pound until the end of the year, and we now have a minimum price of US$3.25 per pound protected for the first quarter of 2024." concluded Mr. McDonald.

Third Quarter Review

In September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") issued the Final Underground Injection Control ("UIC") permit for the Florence Copper Project and the permit became effective on October 31, 2023. The Company now has all key permits in place to commence construction of the commercial production facility at Florence;

Third quarter earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization* was $65.4 million, Adjusted EBITDA* was $62.7 million, and cash flows from operations were $27.0 million;

GAAP net income was $0.9 million (nil per share) and Adjusted net income* was $19.7 million ($0.07 per share) after normalizing for unrealized foreign exchange and derivative losses;

Gibraltar produced 35.4 million pounds of copper for the quarter, a 26% improvement over the prior quarter as a result of higher grades, improved recoveries and increased mill throughput;

Copper head grades in the quarter improved to 0.26% as mining progressed deeper into the Gibraltar pit and the lower benches provided the expected improvement in ore grade and quality;

Molybdenum grades also increased in the period, resulting in a 60% increase in quarterly molybdenum production;

Gibraltar sold 32.1 million pounds of copper in the third quarter (100% basis). The B.C. port workers labour strike in early July caused shipping delays and a build-up of Gibraltar copper concentrate inventory. As a result, third quarter sales volumes lagged production by three million pounds, and the excess inventory is expected to be shipped and sold in the fourth quarter;

Total site costs* in the third quarter were $102.0 million on a 100% basis, $3.4 million lower than the previous quarter due to lower explosive and grinding media use, contractor services, and repairs and maintenance costs. C1 costs were US$2.20 per pound in the quarter;

On October 25, 2023, the Company received the first US$20 million tranche of its US$25 million equipment loan commitment from Bank of America for Florence Copper; and

The Company had a closing cash balance of $82 million at September 30, 2023.

*Non-GAAP performance measure. See

Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.

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