Mr. Segun Lawson reports
THOR EXPLORATIONS ANNOUNCES Q1 2026 OPERATING UPDATE
Thor Explorations Ltd. has provided an operational update for its Segilola gold mine, located in Nigeria, and the company's mineral exploration properties located in Nigeria, Senegal and Ivory Coast for the three months to March 31, 2026 (Q1).
Segilola Q1 2026 highlights:
- Q1 gold poured of 20,256 ounces;
- Q1 gold sold of 15,417 ounces at an average realized price of $4,829 per ounce;
- Q1 cash balance of $154-million and gold bullion inventory of 4,000 ounces for an adjusted net cash position of $173-million;
- Gold dore inventory of 2,077 ounces;
- Gold produced from 239,664 tonnes milled at an average grade of 2.54 grams per tonne of gold;
- Process plant recovery achieved 93.1 per cent;
- Mine production of 459,246 tonnes at an average grade of 1.58 g/t of Au for 23,397 ounces;
- Ore stockpile increased by 3,844 ounces to 54,057 ounces of Au, at an average grade of 0.76 g/t of Au;
- Au in circuit decreased by 2,533 ounces to 3,069 ounces of Au.
Full-year 2026 outlook and catalysts:
- Full-year 2026 production guidance range maintained at 75,000 to 85,000 ounces of gold;
- Full-year 2026 all-in sustaining cost guidance range maintained at $1,000 to $1,200 per ounce;
- Drilling programs across the company's exploration portfolio:
- Segilola: continuation of underground exploration drilling program targeting additional resource definition during 2026;
- Nigeria: continuation of scout drilling programs on identified near-mine and regional targets;
- Senegal (Douta project):
- Infill drilling at Makosa North, Makosa East and Baraka 3 targeted at converting inferred resources to indicated resources;
- 8,000-metre drilling program in Douta-West licence to delineate scale of opportunity and potentially include additional resources in the Douta preliminary feasibility study (PFS) mine plan;
- Further reverse circulation (RC) drilling targeting additional oxide resources;
- Ivory Coast: Guitry, Marahui and Boundiali licences, continuation of geochemical work programs, magnetic surveys and initial drill programs on identified targets;
- Following completion of the Douta project drilling programs, the company will prepare an updated mineral resource estimate and an optimized PFS.
Segun Lawson, president and chief executive officer, stated: "Having completed an operationally robust year in 2025, during which we achieved record gold production and record profitability, we are pleased to keep up the momentum at the start of the year with a strong first quarter of 2026. Pouring just over 20,000 ounces is in line with the mid-range of our production guidance of 75,000 to 85,000 ounces for the year.
"In the quarter, our focus at Segilola has been to extend the mine life. Our drilling activities continue underneath the pit, where we continue to intersect minable gold mineralization. Our drilling activities will continue throughout the year with the aim of drilling and delineating sufficient ore tonnage to proceed with underground mine development.
"In Senegal, following the completion of the Douta preliminary feasibility study in the quarter, our exploration activities have materially increased. We are looking to optimize the PFS where we have identified areas of significant upside potential. This includes drilling within the existing pit shells, delineating additional oxide targets, and extensive air-core drilling and rock-chip sampling at our newest Bousankhoba licence. We expect results from our drilling programs in Senegal to be released in Q2 2026 and have the objective of reaching our final investment decision for the project in H2 2026.
"Lastly, in Cote d'Ivoire, we are exploring all of our licences, which include the newly acquired Loudiba exploration licence. Drilling is ongoing at both the Guitry project and the Marahui licence, with results to be released in Q2 2026.
"We ended the quarter with a healthy cash balance of $154-million (U.S.) and 4,000 ounces of unsold gold bullion, which we have agreed to sell in Q2 2026. We continue to grow our balance sheet whilst managing to keep in line with our cost guidance."
Exploration Q1 2026 highlights:
- Nigeria (Segilola):
- Continuation of diamond drilling program to test the depth extensions of the Segilola deposit;
- Gold mineralization continues to be confirmed by the continuing drilling program;
- Senegal:
- During the quarter, in addition to the completion and submission of the PFS, the company undertook drilling programs at Makosa North and Tail and the Baraka 3 prospect; drilling was also carried out to test new geochemical targets in Douta West. The results of the program are to be released in Q2 2026;
- Target generation was carried out in the Bousankhoba licence with extensive geochemical and rock-chip sampling. Drilling of these newly generated targets commenced late in the quarter, and the company aims to release the results on a continuing basis as they are received; the first results are expected in Q2 2026;
- Ivory Coast:
- Guitry project -- work during the quarter comprised a follow-up RC drilling program designed to test extensions of the identified mineralization and to test new areas in the licence for mineralization;
- Marahui exploration licence -- exploration activities continued with a maiden drilling program continuing throughout the period;
- Boundiali project -- completion of a soil geochemical auger drilling program in which samples were collected over the central and eastern portions of the exploration permit; several geochemical targets were generated; the company continues to work up these targets and other areas of the licence for RC drilling later in the year.
About Thor Explorations Ltd.
Thor Explorations is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of mineral properties located in Nigeria, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Thor Explorations holds:
- A 100-per-cent interest in the Segilola gold project located in Osun state, Nigeria;
- A 100-per-cent economic interest in the Douta gold project located in southeastern Senegal;
- A 100-per-cent interest in the Guitry gold project in Ivory Coast;
- Additional exploration tenure in Nigeria, Senegal and Ivory Coast, comprising wholly and majority-owned interests.
Thor Explorations trades on the Alternative Investment Market and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol THX.
Qualified person
The above information has been prepared under the supervision of Alfred Gillman (fellow AusIMM, CP), who is designated as a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 and the AIM rules and has reviewed and approves the content of this news release. He has also reviewed quality assurance/quality control, sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information.
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