B2Gold Corp. Achieves Record Second Quarter and First-Half 2015 Gold Production; Gold Production Increases 42% in Second Quarter 2015

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jul 23, 2015) - B2Gold Corp. (BTO.TO)(NYSE MKT:BTG)(NAMIBIAN:B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its gold production and revenue for the second quarter and first-half of 2015. All dollar figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.

2015 Second Quarter Highlights

  • Record quarterly consolidated gold production of 121,566 ounces, 42% greater than in the same period in 2014

  • Gold revenue of $136.5 million on sales of 114,423 ounces at an average price of $1,193 per ounce

  • Otjikoto mill expansion from 2.5 million tonnes per year to 3.0 million tonnes per year remains on schedule, expected to increase gold production even further starting in September 2015

  • Company is on track to meet its 2015 annual guidance of 500,000 to 540,000 ounces of gold production at cash operating costs between $630 to $660 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs between $950 and $1,025 per ounce

  • New $350 million corporate revolving credit facility finalized

  • Robust results from the new optimized feasibility study for the Fekola Project in Mali announced on June 11, 2015

2015 First-Half Highlights

  • Record half-year consolidated gold production of 237,425 ounces (including 18,815 ounces of pre-commercial production from Otjikoto), an increase of 30% over the same period in 2014

  • Consolidated gold revenue of $275.4 million (or record half-year consolidated gold revenue of $298.5 million including $23.1 million of pre-commercial sales from Otjikoto)

  • Record half-year gold sales of 229,222 ounces (or 247,688 ounces including 18,466 ounces of pre-commercial sales from Otjikoto)

  • Successful transition from construction to commercial production at the new Otjikoto Mine

Gold Production

Consolidated gold production in the second quarter of 2015 was another quarterly record of 121,566 ounces, representing an increase of 42% over the same period last year and 3,437 ounces above budget. The increased gold production was primarily attributable to the successful production start and strong ramp-up in production at the new Otjikoto Mine, as well as increased production from both the Masbate and Limon mines. On February 28, 2015, the new Otjikoto Mine in Namibia achieved commercial production, one month ahead of schedule, after a strong start-up following its first gold pour on December 11, 2014. For accounting purposes, gold revenue earned and related production costs from the sale of pre-commercial production were credited to Otjikoto's mineral property development costs prior to commercial production.