Mr. Jared Scharf reports

DESERT GOLD ADVANCES BARANI GRAVITY PLANT INSTALLATION AND CONFIRMS JULY 19TH, 2026 COMMISSIONING TARGET AT SMSZ PROJECT, WESTERN MALI

Desert Gold Ventures Inc. has provided an update on development activities at its Barani East site gravity plant and associated site infrastructure within the company's 100-per-cent-owned Senegal Mali shear zone (SMSZ) gold project in western Mali.

Updated ground developments at Barani

Development activities at Barani are now advancing, transitioning from initial mobilization into active enabling works. During this period, the company completed broad-scale site clearing, surveying, initial foundation excavation and ancillary infrastructure preparation, significantly improving overall site readiness ahead of plant delivery. A total footprint of approximately 52,000 square metres has been cleared across key operational areas, including the process plant site, workshop and stockpile zones. Survey control has been established, and initial foundation excavation has commenced, positioning the site for construction activities upon arrival of the processing equipment. Supporting works, including perimeter fencing, access control infrastructure and fabrication of ancillary steel components, are also progressing.

Desert Gold's chief executive officer, Jared Scharf, commented: "Site preparations at Barani East are progressing well. With the gravity plant now on its way to the port in Dakar, the company is closer than ever to achieving our goal of gold production. I look forward to providing the market with additional guidance as major milestones are achieved."

Water supply development continues to advance as a critical parallel workstream. The company commissioned AGR-Consulting to complete a geophysical targeting program utilizing electromagnetic profiling and conductivity contrast interpretation across 15 survey lines. The program identified 13 priority borehole targets, exceeding initial expectations. Drilling of the first borehole is currently under way, with favourable hydrogeological conditions interpreted between 60 and 90 metres depth.

Updates on the processing facility

Under the terms of the supply agreement, technical acceptance of the company's 200-tonne-per-day gravity processing plant, including a six-month inventory of spare parts and a 650-kilovolt-ampere generator set, was completed in China between March 25 and April 3, 2026. The inspection was conducted by a joint team of Desert Gold representatives and independent engineers, confirming that the equipment meets contractual specifications and is approved for shipment.

Six containers carrying the gravity plant and generator have been shipped from Shekou and Qingdao ports as of April 26, 2026. Delivery to the Port of Dakar is expected by mid-June, with site delivery anticipated by late June, 2026, subject to standard logistics and customs clearance. Commissioning of the plant is currently targeted for mid-July, 2026. While minor adjustments to the shipping route were required, overall project timelines remain aligned with planned development milestones.

The Barani plant forms part of the company's staged development strategy at the SMSZ project. As outlined in the updated preliminary economic assessment announced in November, 2025, the company is pursuing a modular oxide development scenario at Barani and Gourbassi utilizing a gravity and carbon-in-leach (CIL) processing flowsheet. The study demonstrated an after-tax NPV (net present value) (10-per-cent discount rate) of $61-million (U.S.) and an after-tax IRR (internal rate of return) of 57 per cent at a base case gold price of $2,850 (U.S.) per ounce. The conceptual development plan contemplates operational flexibility to incorporate additional near-mine oxide material as exploration advances.

The company believes the progress achieved to date at Barani reduces execution risk associated with plant installation and supports advancement toward the next phase of development. Further updates will be provided as key milestones are achieved.

Qualified person statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ty Magee (MSc, PGeo), a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Magee is an advisor and consultant to Desert Gold Ventures and is considered independent of the company.

About Desert Gold Ventures Inc.

Desert Gold Ventures is a gold exploration and development company which controls the 440-square-kilometre SMSZ project in Western Mali containing measured and indicated mineral resources of 8.47 million tonnes grading 1.14 g/t gold totalling 310,300 ounces and inferred mineral resources of 20.7 million tonnes grading 1.16 g/t gold totalling 769,200 ounces.

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