Detour Gold Announces Updated West Detour Development Plans

/ MEDIA STATEMENT / This content is not written by Creamer Media, but is a supplied media statement.

Detour Gold Corporation announces that given the current uncertainties associated with the permitting process for the West Detour project, it is no longer reasonable to assume that the permits required will be obtained in time to allow mining to commence in January 2018 (as per the current mine plan). As a result, the Company is preparing an alternative mine plan and will be filing a new life of mine plan and associated Technical Report under National Instrument 43-101 prior to the end of March 2017.

As explained below, the Company filed an Environmental Study Report ("ESR") with provincial authorities today. However, the Company was recently notified by one of its Aboriginal partners that it had made a request for a federal environmental assessment process. While the Company believes that the ESR meets both the provincial and federal environmental standards, the provincial process typically takes one year compared to two to three years for the federal process.

Paul Martin, President and CEO of Detour Gold stated, "Although we are disappointed with the permitting delay for West Detour, having the benefit of a large reserve base allows us to manage this schedule change. The Company is currently in discussions with the federal authorities and looks forward to concluding this matter shortly."

Filing of Environmental Study Report
The ESR was filed today with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act for a Class "C" Environmental Assessment for Resource Stewardship and Facility Development Projects. In addition, the ESR was distributed to both provincial and federal ministries and impacted Aboriginal communities for their review and comment.

While the Company has not yet obtained the support of all Aboriginal partners, it filed the ESR in order to trigger the commencement of the environmental assessment process. The Company will continue to engage with all of its Aboriginal partners throughout the environmental assessment process.

Request for Federal Environmental Assessment
The Company was notified by one of its Aboriginal partners that it had submitted a request to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to subject the West Detour project to the federal environmental assessment process under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (the "Act"). The Company has received confirmation from CEAA that such a request has been made.

Although CEAA had advised the Company in 2015 that the proposed project was not a "designated physical activity" under the Act and therefore a federal environmental assessment process was not required, in light of CEAA's receipt of a formal request for a federal environmental assessment, it must review the request. CEAA has not indicated at this time how or when it will respond to the request.

New Mine Sequencing for West Detour
As a result of these events, the Company is reconfiguring its mine plan to determine the optimal timing to commence West Detour. In the base case plan currently being developed, the mining of the West Detour pit would not commence before 2021 to reflect the timing of a federal process, while including flexibility to reflect a shorter provincial process by providing an option to start the adjacent North satellite pit in 2019. In both cases, annual mining rates are projected to ramp up to approximately 120 million tonnes (Mt) from 100 Mt in 2017.

There is no change to the preliminary gold production guidance of 600,000 to 670,000 ounces for 2018. Gold production is expected to be lower in 2019 and 2020 as compared to the prior LOM plan due primarily to the delay of West Detour.

Technical Information
The scientific and technical content of this news release was reviewed, verified and approved by Drew Anwyll, P.Eng., Senior Vice President, Technical Services, a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."

Conference Call Details
The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 10:00 AM ET on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.
Webcast access: via the Company website at www.detourgold.com (details on home page)
Telephone access:

Toll-free (North America): 1-800-319-4610
Toronto local and international: 416-915-3239

A playback will be available until March 1, 2017 by dialing 604-674-8052 or 1-855-669-9658 within Canada and the United States, using pass code 1141. The webcast and presentation slides will be archived on the Company's website.