Company generates record $133 million in free cash flow to support self-funded growth model

Orla Mining Ltd. (TSX: OLA) (NYSE: ORLA) announces the results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2025.

(All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated)

 

Fourth Quarter 2025 Summary

• Fourth quarter gold production was 95,405 ounces and gold sold was 92,889 ounces. Total annual gold production for 2025 was 300,620 ounces and the Company exceeded its full-year 2025 production guidance (pre-released).
• Fourth quarter all-in sustaining cost¹ was $1,536 per ounce of gold sold, while full year AISC was $1,458 per ounce of gold sold, within the guidance range of $1,350 to $1,550 per ounce of gold sold.
• Net income for the fourth quarter was $79.2 million or $0.23 per share
• Adjusted earnings¹ for the fourth quarter were $143.1 million or $0.42 per share.
• Cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital was $165.4 million while free cash flow¹ was $133.4 million, during the fourth quarter.
• Exploration and project expenditure¹ was $43.9 million during the quarter, of which $12.3 million was expensed and $31.6 million was capitalized.
• Musselwhite exploration results confirmed high grade mineralization extending two kilometres beyond current operations, strengthening confidence in significant resource growth potential and extended mine life.
• The Company ended the year with $420.8 million in cash and $385.0 million in face value of debt, resulting in $35.8 million in net cash¹ and $480.8 million in liquidity¹. Subsequent to year end, the Company repaid an additional $30.0 million towards its revolving credit facility.
• In late 2025, the Company announced an inaugural quarterly dividend of US$0.015, which was paid in February 2026.

 

Other Recent News

• In January 2026, the Company announced the results of the updated Feasibility Study for the South Railroad Project in Nevada, along with Board approval for spending on detailed engineering, procurement, and project execution in advance of mid-2026 construction start upon permit receipt.
• In February 2026, the Company announced a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) evaluating the potential for a stand-alone underground development beneath the existing Camino Rojo open pit, outlining a pathway to a larger-scale, long-life underground mining operation and processing facility in Zacatecas, Mexico.
• Subsequent to year end 2025, Orla received the required approvals and permits from the Mexican Environmental Department, including the Environmental impact assessment and the Change of Land Use for the remaining expansion of the Camino Rojo oxide heap leach open-pit operations and for the development of an underground exploration decline. The approval of the MIA is conditional upon Orla meeting certain customary conditions and standard requirements.

 

“2025 was a pivotal year for Orla as we successfully integrated Musselwhite into our growing platform. The mine is already contributing meaningfully to our production and cash flow. Orla’s initial exploration results have been highly encouraging, supporting near‑term reserve and resource growth and the potential for significant mine life extension.

 

Camino Rojo proved resilient despite an operational setback, and with the advancement of the sulphide underground project, we see a long and productive future ahead in Mexico. In Nevada, we are preparing for a mid-year construction start, marking the next step in unlocking value from our third mine.

 

I’m proud of the team’s financial discipline, strong safety and environmental performance, and the solid foundation we’ve built for growing value creation.”

     –   Jason Simpson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Orla

 

Financial and Operations Update

 

2025 Guidance Comparison

A comparison of this revised guidance versus actual is provided below. As the acquisition of Musselwhite closed on February 28, 2025, figures in the table below include ten (10) months of production and expenditures for Musselwhite. However, cash cost and AISC include nine (9) months of production and costs.

 

Fourth Quarter 2025 Consolidated Summary

Gold produced during the quarter totaled 95,405 ounces, with a notable contribution from the Musselwhite Mine. Gold sold during the quarter totaled 92,889 ounces, also a quarterly record. Consolidated cash costs and AISC totaled $1,093 and $1,536 per ounce of gold sold, respectively.

 

Musselwhite

During the quarter, Musselwhite mined 370,622 tonnes of ore and processed 361,407 tonnes at a mill head grade of 6.77 g/t gold. Gold recovery rates of 95.7% resulted in gold production of 75,818 ounces. Gold sold during the quarter was 73,910 ounces.

December ended with six consecutive months of consistent ore supply to the mill from the mine at an average milling rate of approximately 3,800 tonnes per day, something that has not been achieved in many years at Musselwhite.

Main ramp development was extended to the next level in the PQ zone providing another mining horizon in that zone with additional operational flexibility.

Development in the 1080 exploration ramp continued to advance in preparation of the arrival of several additional underground diamond drills in the first quarter of 2026. The additional drills will be used to accelerate efforts to upgrade mineralization extensions in the PQ zone.

Lateral development metres in the quarter totalled 3,338 metres. Lateral development allows access to mining horizons for existing reserves and provides additional drill platforms to support the underground exploration drill program to grow reserves, resources, and mineral inventories. During the quarter, lateral development amounted to $53.8 million of which $35.9 million was expensed and $17.9 million was capitalized.

Sustaining capex was $27.2 million, mostly driven by underground development, new mobile mining equipment, and PQ Extension.

At December 31, 2025, the Musselwhite Mine Mineral Resource increased favourably year-over-year. Measured and Indicated Resources totalled 7.67 million tonnes at 3.52 g/t Au for 0.87 million ounces (Measured: 2.3 Mt at 4.02 g/t, Indicated: 5.4 Mt at 3.31 g/t), compared with 3.79 million tonnes at 4.15 g/t Au for 0.51 million ounces at year-end 2024 (Measured: 1.5 Mt at 4.21 g/t, Indicated 2.3 Mt at 4.10 g/t). Inferred resources increased to 11.90 million tonnes at 3.71 g/t Au for 1.42 million ounces from 1.86 million tonnes at 4.99 g/t Au for 0.30 million ounces in the prior year. Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves remained stable, successfully replacing annual depletion, with 8.72 million tonnes at 5.18 g/t Au for 1.45 million ounces as of December 31, 2025 (Proven: 4.2 Mt at 5.76 g/t, Probable: 4.5 Mt at 4.64 g/t). See the Company’s annual information form dated March 19, 2026 for additional information.

 

Camino Rojo Operations Summary

The Camino Rojo Oxide Gold Mine produced 19,587 ounces of gold in the fourth quarter of 2025.

During the quarter, Camino Rojo mined nearly 1.8 million tonnes of ore and nearly 2.7 million tonnes of waste, for an implied strip ratio of 1.52. This higher strip ratio was a result of the pit wall event that occurred in July 2025. As stabilization activities continued through the second half of 2026, a new ramp was established that required the removal of overburden material and waste material which resulted in a higher-than-normal strip ratio.

During the quarter, a total of 1.9 million tonnes of ore grading an average of 0.47 g/t gold were placed on the heap leach pad. This included material from low-grade stockpiles that was stacked while mining activities were ramping back up to full capacity following the pit wall event in late July. Gold sold during the quarter totaled 18,979 ounces and sustaining capital totaled $1.5 million.

Subsequent to the year end, the Mexican Federal Environmental Department approved the Company’s Environmental Impact Statement for the expansion of the Camino Rojo Oxide Mine. This approval, together with the Change of Land Use authorization which has also been received, provides the permits required to mine the remainder of the oxide open pit, including the layback area to the north. The MIA also permits construction of an exploration decline to support continued advancement of the Camino Rojo Underground project. This milestone provides operating flexibility at Camino Rojo and supports both oxide mine optimization and underground development. The approval of the MIA is conditional upon Orla meeting certain customary conditions and standard requirements.

 

Project and Exploration Summary

During the quarter, exploration focused on drilling activities at Musselwhite in Canada, Camino Rojo in Mexico, and the South Carlin Complex (including the South Railroad Project) in Nevada. For the fourth quarter, a total of 26,753 metres were drilled, with 16,146 metres at Musselwhite, 4,623 metres in Mexico, and 5,984 metres in Nevada. Project development activities during the period focused on advancing permitting efforts and feasibility study update for the South Railroad Project in Nevada and progressing the preliminary economic assessment for the underground sulphide project at Camino Rojo.

 

Musselwhite, Ontario:

The 2025 exploration program at Musselwhite advanced through the fourth quarter with a focus on: (1) deep directional drilling along the Mine Trend, (2) ongoing underground drilling for reserve and resource growth and definition, and (3) near-mine surface drilling. Results received during the quarter and throughout 2025 confirmed the continuity of geology and gold mineralization up to two kilometres beyond current operations. Underground drilling intersected high-grade mineralization in the upper and lower mine areas across the Redwings, Lynx, West Limb, and PQ Extension zones, while near-mine surface exploration returned shallow, encouraging mineralization from early-stage targets.

The deep directional drilling program continued to evaluate the down-plunge extension of the Mine Trend, with a total of 12,553 metres completed during the year. Results received during the fourth quarter confirmed continuity of gold mineralization two kilometres from current operations and indicate the potential for stacked mineralized zones, with an upper horizon interpreted as the Lynx zone and a lower horizon interpreted as the PQ zone. Drilling completed to date is interpreted to have been drilled above the PQ Extension horizon. This interpretation of stacked mineralized zones at depth remains under evaluation, with further drilling planned through 2026 to test the continuity, geometry and grade distribution of both zones.

Underground exploration drilling continued throughout 2025 and into year-end, focused on reserve replacement, resource expansion, and inventory definition within Lynx, Redwings, West Limb, and PQ Extensions zones. Results returned multiple high‑grade intersections, supporting production and growth, and contributed to improved geological confidence in near-term production areas. A total of 32,131 metres of underground exploration drilling was completed during the year, and the program will continue in 2026 with six underground drill rigs.

The initial near-mine surface drilling program was completed in October 2025 and returned shallow gold mineralization across multiple targets, including a narrow high-grade intersection southeast of the mine toward the Karl Zeemal mineralized zone. A total of 6,558 metres of near-mine surface drilling was completed during the year. The combined historical and recent results support the potential for additional mill feed sources, subject to further exploration work and evaluation. Follow up drilling in 2026 will continue in the Camp Bay target area and along the four-kilometre strike trend along the Musselwhite SE extension, alongside the review, modeling, and estimation of the Camp Bay and Karl Zimmel mineralized zones.

Results from the 2025 exploration program are summarized in the Company’s press releases dated October 6, 2025, “Orla Mining Discovers Potential Two-Kilometre Extension at Musselwhite”, and December 18, 2025, “Orla Confirms Two-Kilometre Gold Trend Extension at Musselwhite.”

For 2026, Orla is advancing the second year of its aggressive exploration program, building on programs initiated in 2025. Efforts continue to target the Mine Trend Extension, underground resource and reserve growth, and selective near-mine satellite opportunities, supporting potential mine life extensions and future operational expansions. The deep directional, underground exploration and the follow-up near-mine surface 2026 programs are underway, while the team will also be initiating data review, interpretation, and target definition across the extensive regional land position.

 

South Railroad Project & South Carlin Complex, Nevada:

South Railroad is a permitting stage gold heap leach project located in Nevada, USA, and forms a part of the Company’s larger South Carlin Complex (“South Carlin”) land package on the prolific Carlin Trend. South Railroad represents Orla’s next construction build and is expected to increase the Company’s consolidated annual gold production close to 500,000 ounces.

The South Railroad Project, situated on federal land, is currently advancing under the guidance of the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a FAST-41 Covered Project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for permitting. In November, South Railroad transitioned from participation under the FAST-41 transparency process to full coverage as a FAST-41 project. FAST-41 coverage provides tools to support efficient review, reduce uncertainty, and help ensure the project meets the highest standards of environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance.

The BLM’s Record of Decision, the final permitting decision, is targeted for mid 2026. On January 15, 2026, Orla announced the results of an optimized feasibility study for the South Railroad Project. The supporting 43-101 Technical Report was filed in the quarter. The study results reaffirmed the strong attributes of the South Railroad Project, notably the robust production profile and margins. Underpinning the updated study was significant engineering work, contractor and supplier engagement, and project optimizations, forming the basis for the initial capital cost estimate of $395 million. Project enhancements include a two-stage crushing circuit and improvements to the overall development scope.

Orla has a clear path to advance South Railroad into construction and production. With the feasibility study complete, the project has entered execution, and M3 Engineering (“M3”) has been awarded the EPCM contract following a competitive process. Engineering and procurement are progressing, with field construction targeted for mid-2026, subject to final permits, and an estimated 18-month build schedule.

In November 2025, Orla completed its 2025 exploration program at South Carlin, with 5,984 metres drilled during the fourth quarter, for a program total of 18,184 metres drilled for the year. The program focused on strengthening geological understanding, refining models, expanding and upgrading resources at Dark Star and Pinion, and advancing satellite deposits. Drilling also identified new zones of oxide gold mineralization, including Spike and the emerging Firebox target. Drilling at the Pinion deposit intersected 67.1 m at 1.06 g/t Au (oxide), highlighting potential for pit expansion beyond current reserves. At the Dark Star deposit, drilling returned 22.6 m at 5.65 g/t Au including 5.0 m at 15.1 g/t Au (oxide), highlighting an opportunity to extend the oxide envelope and support potential pit growth. Drilling at the Firebox target intersected 24.4 m at 1.08 g/t Au (oxide) in the first hole, highlighting potential for a new oxide satellite deposit approximately 500 metres from the Pinion deposit (see December 2, 2025 news release, “Orla Mining Discovers High-Grade Oxide Gold Beyond Pit Shells at South Carlin Complex, Reinforcing Growth Trajectory Ahead of 2026 Construction”).

The 2026 exploration program is planned to commence in the second quarter, 2026 and will focus on potential pit extensions at Pinion, Dark Star and Jasperoid Wash to support resource and reserve growth and assess opportunities to extend mine life, as well as advancing oxide targets and mineralized zones proximal to the South Railroad development area.

 

Camino Rojo Underground and Zone 22:

During the fourth quarter of 2025, Orla completed its infill drill program at Camino Rojo focused on the upper part of Zone 22, building on the first underground Mineral Resource estimate released on June 5, 2025 (see June 5, 2025 news release). 3,052 metres were drilled during the quarter, with a total of 21,891 metres drilled during the year.

Drilling since 2020 led to the initial underground Mineral Resource estimate in June 2025 and, with additional early‑2025 results, supported the updated underground Mineral Resource estimate included in the 2026 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) (see February 19, 2026 news release). A technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) supporting the updated resource estimate was filed on March 18, 2026, and is available on the Company’s website, as well as on SEDAR+ and EDGAR.

A 2026 drill program to support the generation of metallurgical, geotechnical, and hydrological material for Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) began in January 2026, with approximately 4,300 metres of drilling planned.

During the fourth quarter, the regional exploration program was completed with 1,571 metres drilled, for a year-end total of 4,735 metres drilled across four targets: Hacheros, Lago Azul, Majoma and Miserias. The 2026 regional drill program is expected to begin in the second half with 4,400 metres planned.

 

2026 Guidance Summary

For more details on the 2026 Guidance, please refer to the January 20, 2026, news release “Orla Mining Achieves Record Quarterly Production Propelling Company Above 300,000 Ounces for 2025, setting up a Catalyst-Rich 2026”.

 

Financial Statements

Orla’s audited consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion for the year ended December 31, 2025, are available on the Company’s website at www.orlamining.com, and under the Company’s profiles on SEDAR+ and EDGAR.

 

Qualified Persons Statement

The scientific and technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Mr. J. Andrew Cormier, P. Eng., Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and Mr. Sylvain Guerard, P. Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration of the Company, who are the Qualified Persons as defined under NI 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

 

About Orla Mining Ltd.

Orla’s corporate strategy is to acquire, develop, and operate mineral properties where the Company’s expertise can substantially increase stakeholder value. The Company has three material projects, consisting of two operating mines and one development project, all 100% owned by the Company: (1) Camino Rojo, in Zacatecas State, Mexico, an operating gold and silver open-pit and heap leach mine and the potential underground project. The property covers over 139,000 hectares which contains a large oxide and sulphide Mineral Resource; (2) Musselwhite Mine, in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, an underground gold mine that has been in operation for over 25 years and produced close to 6 million ounces of gold, with a long history of resource growth and conversion; and (3) South Railroad (South Carlin Complex), in Nevada, United States, a feasibility-stage, open pit, heap leach gold project located on the Carlin trend. The technical reports for the Company’s material projects are available on Orla’s website at www.orlamining.com, and on SEDAR+ and EDGAR under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov, respectively.