Dr. Paul West-Sells reports

WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS STATEMENT SUBMISSION AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE

Western Copper and Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Casino Mining Corp., has submitted to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB) executive committee a schedule for submission of the environmental and socio-economic effects statement (ESE statement) for the Casino mine project.

In the schedule, Casino indicates that it plans to submit the ESE statement in the second half of 2024. The ESE statement will form the basis for the company's assessment application for the panel review and will include all the material outlined in the revised ESE statement guidelines issued on Sept. 12, 2023. In addition, Casino has been engaging and consulting with first nations that may be impacted by the project. This will inform all aspects of the ESE statement development.

"The company is committed to ensuring that review of the Casino project occurs in a robust manner using the most up-to-date methodologies in environmental assessment," stated Paul West-Sells, president and chief executive officer. "We remain confident that the Casino project is a great asset for the Yukon that will provide benefits to Yukon communities and first nations for generations to come."

Infrastructure update

The Carmacks bypass project, the first section of the Casino project access road and a $29.6-million investment by the Yukon and federal governments, has been completed ahead of schedule. The bypass will allow industrial vehicles to bypass the village of Carmacks, reducing heavy traffic, improving community safety, and improving access to mineral exploration and development activities in the area.

The bypass comprises a 70-metre clear span steel bridge with concrete deck and five kilometres of new road. The contract was completed by Pelly Construction, which worked closely with Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation (LSCFN) to ensure employment, training and commercial benefits flowed to the LSCFN citizens and the community, with over 60 per cent of the wages paid to first nation citizens.

About Western Copper and Gold Corp.

Western Copper and Gold is developing the Casino project, Canada's premier copper-gold mine in Yukon and one of the most economic greenfield copper-gold mining projects in the world.

The company is committed to working collaboratively with its first nations and local communities to progress the Casino project, using internationally recognized responsible mining technologies and practices.

We seek Safe Harbor.