Mr. Nick DeMare reports

ROCHESTER ANNOUNCES START UP OF NEW PROCESSING CIRCUIT

Rochester Resources Ltd. has provided this update further to the company's news release of Nov. 21, 2024.

Since 2007, the Mina Real processing plant has been treating mineralized material from the Estanzuela unit, with additional material from the San Francisco unit since 2014. The plant employs a conventional cyanidation process, including crushing, grinding and chemical treatment.

The company has conducted mining operations without defined mineral resources and the production decision was not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves that has demonstrated technical or economic viability.

Historically, material from these two sources has contained high levels of manganese, which has negatively impacted silver production. Since November, 2024, the company has been making plant modifications to increase silver recoveries and, as of March 21, 2025, the new circuit commenced operations. The company is utilizing a proprietary process to increase silver recoveries.

The initial phase of plant modifications cost approximately $1.45-million (U.S.) with financing provided by company chairman and director Eduardo Luna and a company affiliated with Rochester president Nick DeMare. The interest rate of 24 per cent charged on this initial financing has been approved by the independent directors. The balance of the financing needed for plant modifications will come from operations.