VANCOUVER, BC, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its gold production and gold revenue for the first quarter of 2022. All dollar figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.

• Total gold production of 209,365 ounces (including 12,892 ounces of attributable production from Calibre Mining Corp. ("Calibre")), 5% (9,760 ounces) above budget, and consolidated gold production of 196,473 ounces from the Company's three operating mines, 4% (8,431 ounces) above budget, with solid performances from all the Company's three mines, with each mine exceeding its budgeted production for the first quarter of 2022
• Consolidated gold revenue was $366 million on sales of 195,100 ounces at an average realized price of $1,874 per ounce
• For 2022, B2Gold remains well positioned for continued strong operational and financial performance with total gold production guidance of between 990,000 - 1,050,000 ounces (including 40,000 - 50,000 attributable ounces projected from Calibre) with total consolidated cash operating costs forecast to be between $620 - $660 per ounce (see "Non-IFRS Measures") and total consolidated all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") (see "Non-IFRS Measures") forecast to be between $1,010 - $1,050 per ounce
• The Company announced an updated and significantly increased Mineral Resource estimate for the Anaconda area, comprised of the Menankoto permit and the Bantako North permit, located approximately 20 kilometres from the Fekola Mine; preliminary planning by the Company has demonstrated that a pit situated on the Anaconda area could provide saprolite (weathered) material to be trucked to and fed into the Fekola mill commencing as early as late 2022, subject to obtaining all necessary permits and completion of a final mine plan, with the potential to add an average of approximately 80,000 to 100,000 ounces per year to the Fekola mill's annual gold production
• B2Gold's Namibian subsidiary was recognized by the Namibian Revenue Agency as the highest revenue contributor among "Overall Top Contributors" in calendar year 2021

Total gold production in the first quarter of 2022 was 209,365 ounces (including 12,892 ounces of attributable production from Calibre), above budget by 5% (9,760 ounces), and consolidated gold production from the Company's three operating mines was 196,473 ounces, above budget by 4% (8,431 ounces), with solid performances from the Company's three mines, with each mine exceeding its budgeted production for the first quarter of 2022 (see "Operations" section below). Due to the timing of higher-grade ore mining, consolidated gold production from the Company's three operating mines is expected to be significantly weighted to the second half of 2022. As expected, compared to the first quarter of 2021, total consolidated gold production was lower by 5% (11,279 ounces), due to the planned significant waste stripping campaign and lower mined ore tonnage at the Fekola Mine in the first quarter of 2022, as Phase 6 of the Fekola Pit continues to be developed in the first half of 2022. 

The Company is currently compiling its consolidated cash operating costs and consolidated AISC results for the first quarter of 2022, which will be released along with its first quarter of 2022 financial results after the North American markets close on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

For full-year 2022, the Company's total gold production is forecast to be between 990,000 - 1,050,000 ounces (including 40,000 - 50,000 attributable ounces projected from Calibre) with total consolidated cash operating costs forecast to be between $620 - $660 per ounce and total consolidated AISC forecast to be between $1,010 - $1,050 per ounce. The Company's consolidated gold production from its three operating mines is forecast to be between 950,000 - 1,000,000 ounces in 2022, with consolidated cash operating costs forecast to be between $600 - $640 per ounce and consolidated AISC forecast to be between $1,000 - $1,040 per ounce. Notwithstanding the ongoing sanctions on Mali announced by the Economic Community of West African States ("ECOWAS") on January 9, 2022, including closure of a number of the borders with Mali, the Fekola Mine continues to operate at full capacity and the Company expects to meet its 2022 production guidance for the Fekola Mine.

For the first half of 2022, consolidated gold production is forecast to be between 390,000 - 410,000 ounces, which is expected to increase significantly to between 560,000 - 590,000 ounces during the second half of 2022. Based mainly on the weighting of production and timing of stripping activities, consolidated cash operating costs are expected to be between $760 - $800 per ounce in the first half of 2022, before significantly improving to between $490 - $530 per ounce during the second half of 2022. In addition, consolidated AISC are expected to be between $1,250 - $1,290 per ounce in the first half of 2022 before significantly improving to between $820 - $860 per ounce during the second half of 2022.

For the first quarter of 2022, consolidated gold revenue was $366 million on sales of 195,100 ounces at an average realized price of $1,874 per ounce, compared to $362 million on sales of 202,330 ounces at an average realized price of $1,791 per ounce in the first quarter of 2021. The slight increase in gold revenue of 1% ($4 million) was 5% attributable to the increase in the average realized gold price, offset by a 4% impact from the decrease in gold ounces sold (mainly due to the lower gold production). 

Mine-by-mine gold production in the first quarter of 2022 (including the Company's estimated 25% attributable share of Calibre's production) was as follows: 

Fekola Gold Mine - Mali

The Fekola Mine in Mali had a successful start to the year with first quarter of 2022 gold production of 101,648 ounces, slightly above budget by 1% (917 ounces), as higher than budgeted processed grade (6%) offset lower than budgeted processed tonnes (5%). Following initial difficulties with importing reagents into Mali as a result of economic border sanctions imposed on Mali by ECOWAS, on January 9, 2022, as a precautionary response, the planned processing of saprolite ore at the Fekola Mine was temporarily suspended to reduce reagent consumption and ensure that sufficient reagents remained available to process higher-grade ore to meet budgeted gold production (which resulted in lower than budgeted throughput for the first quarter of 2022). Although the sanctions continue, the situation has normalized as regular imports of reagents were received by Fekola in February and March 2022. As a result, saprolite ore was reintroduced back into the Fekola mill feed blend at the end of February 2022, and the processing of saprolite ore resumed as planned. Fekola's gold production is expected to be significantly weighted to the second half of 2022 when mining reaches the higher-grade portion of Phase 6 of the Fekola Pit and Cardinal operations are at full capacity. As expected, compared to the first quarter of 2021, Fekola's gold production was lower by 19% (23,440 ounces), due to planned significant waste stripping and lower mined ore tonnage, as Phase 6 of the Fekola Pit continues to be developed in the first half of 2022.

For the first quarter of 2022, mill feed grade was 1.54 grams per tonne ("g/t") compared to budget of 1.45 g/t and 1.99 g/t in the first quarter of 2021; mill throughput was 2.20 million tonnes compared to budget of 2.31 million tonnes and 2.07 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2021; and gold recovery averaged 93.3% compared to budget of 93.5% and 94.4% in the first quarter of 2021. For the first quarter of 2022, as described above, processed grade was above budget while processed tonnes were below budget mainly due to the temporary suspension of processing saprolite ore, offset by the processing of higher-grade ore, in January and February 2022. Processed grade was lower compared to the first quarter of 2021 due to the planned significant waste stripping campaign in the first quarter of 2022. 

The Fekola Mine is expected to produce between 570,000 - 600,000 ounces of gold in 2022 at cash operating costs of between $510 - $550 per ounce and AISC of between $840 - $880 per ounce. For the first half of 2022, Fekola's gold production is expected to be between 220,000 - 230,000 ounces, which is expected to increase significantly to between 350,000 - 370,000 ounces during the second half of 2022. Based mainly on the weighting of production and timing of pre-stripping, Fekola's cash operating costs are expected to be between $720 - $760 per ounce in the first half of 2022, before significantly improving to between $380 - $420 per ounce during the second half of 2022. In addition, Fekola's AISC are expected to be between $1,140- $1,180 per ounce in the first half of 2022, before significantly improving to between $660 - $700 per ounce during the second half of 2022.

Anaconda Area

On March 23, 2022, the Company announced an updated and significantly increased Mineral Resource estimate for the Anaconda area, comprised of the Menankoto permit and the Bantako North permit, located approximately 20 kilometres from the Fekola Mine. The updated and significantly increased Anaconda Mineral Resource estimate (as at January 11, 2022) constrained within a conceptual pit shell at a gold price of $1,800 per ounce included an initial Indicated Mineral Resource estimate of 32,400,000 tonnes at 1.08 g/t gold for a total 1,130,000 ounces of gold, and Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 63,700,000 tonnes at 1.12 g/t gold for 2,280,000 ounces of gold. The Mineral Resource estimate included first time reporting of 1,130,000 ounces of Indicated Mineral Resources and an increase of 1,510,000 ounces (196% increase) of Inferred Mineral Resources since the initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate in 2017 (21,590,000 tonnes at 1.11 g/t gold, for 767,000 ounces).

In 2022, the Company has budgeted $33 million for development of infrastructure for Phase I saprolite mining at the Anaconda area, including road construction. Based on the updated Mineral Resource estimate and B2Gold's preliminary planning, the Company has demonstrated that a pit situated on the Anaconda area could provide selective higher grade saprolite material (average grade of 2.2 g/t) to be trucked to and fed into the Fekola mill commencing as early as late 2022 at a rate of 1.5 million tonnes per annum. Subject to obtaining all necessary permits and completion of a final development plan, the trucking of selective higher grade saprolite material to the Fekola mill would increase the ore processed and annual gold production from the Fekola mill, with the potential to add an average of approximately 80,000 to 100,000 ounces per year to the Fekola mill's annual gold production. The plan to truck the selective higher grade saprolite material is not included in the Company's 2022 production guidance and the Anaconda area Mineral Resources have not been included in the current Fekola life of mine plan.

Based on this updated Mineral Resource Estimate and the 2022 exploration drilling results, the Company has commenced a Phase II scoping study to review the project economics of constructing a stand-alone mill near the Anaconda area. Subject to receipt of a positive Phase II scoping study, the Company expects that the saprolite material would continue to be trucked to and fed into the Fekola mill during the construction period for the Anaconda area stand-alone mill.

In 2022, the Company will continue drilling to infill and extend the saprolite resource area and to follow up on the sulphide mineralization at the Anaconda area, including the Mamba and Adder zones, and several other targets below the saprolite mineralization. The good grade and width combinations at the Anaconda area continue to provide a strong indication of the potential for Fekola-style south plunging bodies of sulphide mineralization, which remains open down plunge. Five drill rigs are currently drilling in the Anaconda area.

Masbate Gold Mine - The Philippines

The Masbate Mine in the Philippines had a strong start to the year with first quarter of 2022 gold production of 59,764 ounces, above budget by 11% (5,711 ounces) and 4% (2,251 ounces) higher compared to the first quarter of 2021, mainly due to higher processed grade. 

For the first quarter of 2022, mill feed grade was 1.19 g/t compared to budget of 1.09 g/t and 1.10 g/t in the first quarter of 2021; mill throughput was 2.01 million tonnes compared to budget of 1.93 million tonnes and 1.95 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2021; and gold recovery averaged 78.0% compared to budget of 79.7% and 83.6% in the first quarter of 2021. Processed grade was above budget in the first quarter of 2022 due to mining additional (unbudgeted) higher-grade areas identified within the planned mining areas. In addition, mine haulage optimizations (which resulted in shorter than planned hauls of waste and increased mining rates) also contributed to the above budgeted mined high-grade ore tonnage in the first quarter of 2022. Compared to the first quarter of 2021, gold recoveries were lower as a result of processing a higher proportion of fresh rock ore in the first quarter of 2022. 

The Masbate Mine is expected to produce between 205,000 - 215,000 ounces of gold in 2022 at cash operating costs of between $740 - $780 per ounce and AISC of between $1,070 - $1,110 per ounce. Masbate's gold production is scheduled to be relatively consistent throughout 2022.

Otjikoto Gold Mine - Namibia

The Otjikoto Mine in Namibia performed well during the first quarter of 2022, producing 35,061 ounces of gold, 5% (1,803 ounces) above budget, with processed tonnes, grade and recoveries all slightly better than budget. As a result of the timing of higher-grade ore mining, Otjikoto's gold production is expected to be significantly weighted to the second half of 2022 when mining is scheduled to reach the higher-grade portions of Phase 3 of the Otjikoto Pit and ore production ramps up at the Wolfshag underground mine. As expected, compared to the first quarter of 2021, gold production was significantly higher by 52% (12,019 ounces), as processed ore in the first quarter of 2021 was primarily sourced from existing stockpiles while significant waste stripping operations continued at both the Wolfshag and Otjikoto pits.

For the first quarter of 2022, mill feed grade was 1.31 g/t compared to budget of 1.26 g/t and 0.82 g/t in the first quarter of 2021; mill throughput was 0.85 million tonnes compared to budget of 0.84 million tonnes and 0.89 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2021; and gold recovery averaged 98.5% compared to budget of 98.0% and 97.6% in the first quarter of 2021.

Development of the Wolfshag underground mine continues to progress with ore production expected to commence in the first half of 2022. The initial underground Mineral Reserve estimate for the down-plunge extension of the Wolfshag deposit includes 210,000 ounces of gold in 1.2 million tonnes of ore at 5.57 g/t gold.

The Otjikoto Mine is expected to produce between 175,000 - 185,000 ounces of gold in 2022 at cash operating costs of between $740 - $780 per ounce and AISC of between $1,120 - $1,160 per ounce. For the first half of 2022, Otjikoto's gold production is expected to be between 65,000 - 70,000 ounces, which is expected to increase significantly to between 110,000 - 115,000 ounces during the second half of 2022. Based mainly on the weighting of the planned production and timing of pre-stripping, Otjikoto's cash operating costs are expected to be between $960 - $1,000 per ounce in the first half of 2022, before significantly improving to between $620 - $660 per ounce during the second half of 2022. In addition, Otjikoto's AISC are expected to be between $1,460 - $1,500 per ounce in the first half of 2022, before significantly improving to between $930 - $970 per ounce during the second half of 2022.

The Company is pleased with its first quarter of 2022 production results as outlined in this news release, particularly given the challenges mining companies are facing around the world. Based on a strong first quarter, the Company is on track to meet its annual gold production guidance for 2022 of between 990,000 - 1,050,000 ounces (including 40,000 - 50,000 attributable ounces projected from Calibre) with total consolidated cash operating costs of between $620 - $660 per ounce and total consolidated AISC of between $1,010 - $1,050 per ounce. The Company is currently compiling its consolidated cash operating costs and consolidated AISC results for the first quarter of 2022, which will be released along with its first quarter of 2022 financial results after the North American markets close on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

The Company's ongoing strategy is to continue to maximize profitable production from its mines, further advance the Anaconda and Gramalote development projects, advance the Company's numerous brownfield and greenfield exploration projects, evaluate new exploration, development and production opportunities and continue to pay an industry leading dividend yield.

B2Gold will release its first quarter of 2022 financial results after the North American markets close on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

B2Gold executives will host a conference call to discuss the results on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 10:00 am PST/1:00 pm EST. You may access the call by dialing the operator at +1 (778) 383-7413 / +1 (416) 764-8659 (Vancouver/Toronto) or toll free at +1 (888) 664-6392 prior to the scheduled start time or you may listen to the call via webcast by clicking here. A playback version will be available for two weeks after the call at +1 (416) 764-8677 (local or international) or toll free at +1 (888) 390-0541 (passcode 666652 #).

Bill Lytle, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information related to operations matters contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP.

"Clive T. Johnson" 
President and Chief Executive Officer

For more information on B2Gold please visit the Company website at www.b2gold.com or contact: