2018 Sustainability Summary About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety About Roxgold Sustainability is a core value of our business, reflected in all of our strategy, from our approach to environmental stewardship to our community development programs. Our mission – to create sustainable value for stakeholders through superior shareholder returns, social responsibility, and accountability to our people and environment – is embedded in everything we do.

Who We Are

Roxgold is a Canadian-based gold mining company with assets located in West Africa. The Company owns and operates the high-grade Yaramoko Gold Mine located on the Houndé greenstone belt in Burkina Faso, and is also advancing the development and exploration of the Séguéla gold project located in Côte d’Ivoire. The Yaramoko Gold Mine consists of two underground gold mines: the 55 Zone and South. The Yaramoko property covers a surface area of approximately 230 km2, and is situated in a pro-mining jurisdiction in the municipality of Bagassi, Province of Balé, Region of Boucle du Mouhoun, an area friendly to foreign investment. Roxgold declared commercial production at the Yaramoko Gold Mine in October 2016. In 2019, Roxgold acquired 11 exploration permits in Côte d’Ivoire, including the flagship Séguéla gold project from Newcrest Mining Limited. Roxgold trades on the TSX under the symbol ROXG.

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 2 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety Sustainability for Success

2018 was an active year for Roxgold, marked by considerable gold production and asset development. Over the course of the year, we demonstrated what we have always believed to be true – that our company’s success is linked to our ability to operate safely and responsibly. It is through our commitments to upholding social development, offsetting our ecological impacts, and conducting our activities safely that we create reliable value for our stakeholders. This year, Roxgold was honoured to receive the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award from renowned civil society organizations at the West Africa Mining Week Gala in Burkina Faso.

Driven by the conviction that our presence in host “Upholding our reputation for is well positioned to enter this new jurisdiction. It is communities must be a win-win, we continued an honour that the Minister of Mines in Burkina Faso investing in our people through our employee following through on promises is spoke to his counterpart in Côte d’Ivoire, endorsing development program. This year, our focus has been crucial for maintaining our social Roxgold and describing our process, advocating for the initial implementation of a program expanding our approach to sustainable mining. the interpersonal skill sets of employees, including licence to operate.” We look forward to engaging with all stakeholders, communication, teamwork and leadership. These – John Dorward, CEO from nearby communities and future employees as capabilities are important at work and for life outside well as the national and local governments. Our team of the mine. lost time injury (LTI) since the commission of the is pleased that our approach to sustainability makes The growing biodiversity within our mine sites mine in 2016 – a low severity incident. In response, Roxgold a partner of choice. We look forward to the further demonstrates the net positive impact of our our management team reinforced awareness of Séguéla gold project taking Roxgold from a single operations. In the protected area surrounding our procedural safeguards to reduce human error, operating asset to a company that stakeholders can mine, plant and animal populations flourish. The incorporating lessons learned from the incident. be confident will be around for decades to come. reappearance of grey duikers (a small brown antelope Following through on promises is crucial for Sincerely, long gone from the region) perfectly embodies the maintaining our social licence to operate. To see the biodiversity program’s success. benefits of operating responsibly, look no further Roxgold’s history of outstanding safety performance than Roxgold’s positive experience acquiring our is a point of pride to all employees, and a competitive newest asset, the Séguéla gold project in Côte advantage. Potential employees want to know they d’Ivoire. The Séguéla project has meaningful parallels will be working for a company that prioritizes their with Yaramoko. It is located in a mining-friendly John Dorward safety. Operating safely also means less time lost to West African francophone country with a nearby President and Chief Executive Officer accidents. In September, we experienced our first community open to engagement, meaning Roxgold

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 3 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety Our Approach

Our Board and leadership have a shared vision to create sustainable value for our stakeholders, in full understanding that our reputation as a responsible mining company is essential to our ability to grow and thrive. The Board’s Health, Safety, Sustainability and Technical (HSST) Committee oversees the Company’s practices and behaviours, applying special consideration to how we affect our host communities, the natural environments where we operate, and the health and safety of our people. With a specific responsibility to review and monitor community, environmental and health and safety policies on behalf of the Board, the HSST Committee ensures compliance with Roxgold’s legal obligations and develops policies, programs and procedures to protect employee health and safety as well as the environment.

Our Vision and Values programs, procedures and tools that • the Burkina Faso legal requirements Our sustainability action plans are allow Roxgold to monitor its status and commitments for the Yaramoko based around our commitments to Roxgold’s vision of developing and and progress in upholding our many Gold Mine permit including the stakeholders and their expectations, operating high margin gold mines legal, social and environmental Yaramoko and Bagassi South and among the frameworks we use is integral to creating relationships responsibilities. Environmental and Social Impact to evaluate our efforts are the SDGs: with stakeholders who are proud Assessments and Resettlement specifically, SDG 3 (Good Health and The ESMS covers all of our mining to work and partner with us. Action Plans Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), activities, in accordance with: Our values – integrity, excellence, SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean • the agreements between Roxgold teamwork, commitment, responsibility • the Government of Canada’s Water and Sanitation) and SDG 15 and its financing partners, including and caring – are engrained in the way Corporate Social Responsibility (Life on Land). an Environmental and Social Action we do business, to ensure that our Strategy operations positively influence those Plan (ESAP) As detailed throughout the report, • internationally recognized standards these development goals help shape connected to them. • System best practices such as such as the Equator Principles and our business decisions, and can also ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards Our Environmental and Social the International Finance be used as a lens for considering Management System Corporation’s Performance Standards Alignment with SDGs the impacts of our initiatives, giving Designed to provide structure, us a globally recognized framework • Roxgold’s Health, Safety, Environment We recognize that aligning with accountability and transparency to to support and demonstrating our and Community Policy internationally shared frameworks our operations, the Environmental readiness to cooperate with other like the UN Sustainable Development and Social Management System • the Yaramoko Gold Mine Permits and organizations to work towards a Goals (SDGs) creates meaningful value (ESMS) is a set of policies, plans, Mining Convention better world. for both our business and society.

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 4 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety Collaborating with Key Stakeholders

Creating opportunities to hear from and collaborate with stakeholders to address their concerns and listen with sincerity is critical to building trust and maintaining community support. A variety of approaches are used to gather input from stakeholders, being mindful of the spectrum of needs, standards and decision-making methods of local communities, governments, local suppliers, and analysts and investors. Stakeholder engagement activity is annually reviewed and re-evaluated for effectiveness, and guided by Roxgold’s principles of inclusivity, transparency, opportunity, information sharing, and mutual learning and relationship development.

Local Communities Local Government Local Suppliers Analysts and Investors We work with about 20 villages with In 2018, Roxgold held 103 meetings Roxgold prioritizes locally sourced According to Ernst & Young research a combined population of roughly with local administrative officials, materials and services across our predicting top metals and mining 30,000 people. In 2018, we held 127 including the Governor, High operations. Roxgold spent disruptors for 2019–2020, social meetings with local stakeholders, Commissioner, Prefect, Mayor and US$110.2 million in 2018 at the licence to operate will be the top- including landowners and traditional regional department heads. At the national level, accounting for 90% rated concern for the extractive sector. leaders. To collect data on topics Central Government level, Roxgold of our total expenditures. At the local Carefully considering communities, of interest to local stakeholders, held 92 meetings, mainly with the community level, Roxgold and its two the environment and our employees community consultations are held Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Finance, main contractors, African Underground is not only the right thing to do, but is regularly. Our Grievance Mechanism Canadian Embassy, World Bank Group Mine Services and All Terrain Services also Roxgold’s competitive advantage. is accessible to all, and any grievances representative and the Chamber Group, spent a total of US$1.1 million Demonstrating respect and building lodged are investigated diligently and of Mines. in 2018 – a noticeable benefit in trust locally allows the Company documented, with quarterly public relation to the level of economic to perform at its best, and provide reporting on the status of a case. activity in the mine site’s rural sustainable value to investors. environment.

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 5 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety Employee Health and Safety

The safety of our people is our first priority and top of mind at all times. Health and safety is important to every workplace, but the nature of the mining industry means acknowledging the reality of ongoing operational risks. So we strive to ensure our systems remain robust and our management teams stay vigilant and alert. Our health and safety management approach is committed to the control and prevention of risks associated with our operations, with a keen focus on continuing to develop employee knowledge of safety best practices.

Case Study Reinforcing Our Emergency Response Team In accordance with international best practices, in September 2018, Roxgold replaced a volunteer system with a 24-hour Emergency 0.39 18,270 1,108 Response Team to optimize emergency preparedness. A new full-time dedicated team recruited from the process plant and underground mine Lost Time Injury hours Formal inspections services added site-specific knowledge in high-risk areas. Trained to Frequency Rate (LTIFR) of training provided as main incident the Australian Certificate III in mines rescue, the Emergency Response per 1,000,000 hours to our contractors and prevention activity Team responded successfully to a small fire on site, and gave vehicle worked employees extrication assistance to the community of and the Local Fire Brigade at the site of an accident.

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 6 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety

Upholding Robust Safety Standards Assessing Occupational Risks As part of routine ESMS updates, our health and In 2018, construction of the new underground mine safety procedures and risk registers are regularly at Bagassi South and Yaramoko’s process plant reassessed and improved to optimize the safety of expansion were both completed successfully, with no our people. This year, we continued daily workplace serious incidents. Also in 2018, we employed seven walk-around inspections, monthly formal inspections new full-time mine rescue team members as part and management tours, and quarterly workplace of our mandate to continually improve emergency inspections with employee Safety Representatives. response preparedness. Not long after achieving Additionally, we administered in-house ISO 45001 5 million hours worked without a lost time injury lead implementer training and organized the (LTI), in September 2018 Roxgold did experience one National Examination Board in Occupational Safety low severity LTI, which our management is actively (NEBOSH) courses for all health and safety staff. using as a learning opportunity to update employees Case Study on best safety practices. The Fight Against Malaria Roxgold recognizes the security risks in our Workplace Inspections, For our operations to run efficiently, we need a region, and has a clear understanding of what our healthy and dependable workforce that can come Audits and Training responsibilities are regarding precautionary action. to work and operate safely. By supporting malaria Our actions are defined by the Voluntary Principles One of Roxgold’s key commitments to health prevention and treatment at our mines and in the on Security and Human Rights guidelines, and and safety is monitoring compliance through villages nearby, Roxgold is investing in both its we are careful to track potential security issues workplace inspections and audits. Performing employees and the communities where we operate. and document any credible threats as part of our routine audits protects our people from Over the course of 2018, Roxgold continued its responsibility for risk assessment. potential gaps in procedure – including those awareness campaign, reminding employees of actions related to human error – and allows our team they can take to avoid contracting the disease. In to learn and implement corrective actions. addition, Roxgold resumed its malaria vector control In 2018, Roxgold employees participated in program, covering both the camp and mine site by 1,108 workplace inspections, from formal work “fogging” at night and implementing stagnant water area inspections to contractor system audits. larvae treatment. During the rainy season, we also Prevention is key to reducing incidents, so our implemented a similar program in the three villages workplace safety strategy includes ongoing in the vicinity of the mine. training programs to ensure employees are fully aware of occupational risks, proper equipment use and standard operating procedures. This year, Roxgold employees benefitted from over 18,000 hours of training.

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 7 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety Community Development

Building meaningful relationships in and around the communities where we operate is one of Roxgold’s most important commitments. Attaining and maintaining our social licence to operate is crucial to the success of current and future mining projects, and that means we have to do what we say. To help communities grow and thrive, we must provide tools and support for ongoing prosperity beyond the life of our operations. Responsible corporate citizenship is not about simply checking boxes to demonstrate compliance on paper, but about building a lasting legacy of positive social impact and economic viability.

Case Study Fostering Skills Development In partnership with the Town Hall of Bagassi and Canadian project WAGES (WUSC–CECI), Roxgold reopened the local municipal $690,800 91% 90% occupational training centre. In 2018, 30 youth from the region completed technical skills training, learning farming equipment (US) of Roxgold of Roxgold mechanics and new capabilities in solar electricity maintenance and employees are from expenditures are Investments installation. Encouraged by the new training centre’s success, Roxgold Burkina Faso made in host country in community and its partners are maintaining and increasing support for this project development activities in 2019.

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 8 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety

Structured through dedicated programs, community creation of a soap production hub with the Dofinsan development initiatives are organized according to association, the establishment of a village shop for categories: community investment, cultural heritage, the Yirissani women’s association, sewing training community health and safety, local procurement, for young women from village, and forming road infrastructure and local employment. a women’s literacy program in Bagassi. To further women’s prosperity in the agricultural sector, Investing in Our Communities we supported training in agro-food processing In 2018, our Community Investment Program took techniques, pig breeding in Koussaro, soumbala on 31 unique projects, with a 100% completion rate production by the Bagassi and Boromo association of by March 2019. From installing solar electrification widows and orphans, the expansion of niébé farming, in schools, to supporting local poultry breeding and and the cultivation of juice-producing plants. women’s health campaigns, these project requests are submitted directly by community representatives Contributions to the Formal Economy such as women’s associations or local organizations. Our operations also add value to Burkina Faso’s After a first screening by the Company, these formal economy by providing contracts and stable Case Study projects are selected and approved by the Local jobs for local people and by helping to expand and Provincial Project Monitoring Committees, the revenue base of our host government through Contributing to and ultimately financed by Roxgold. To ensure income taxation, national social security system Cultural Preservation our decision-making is widely representative of contributions, and the royalties we pay every time One of the privileges we have earned community stakeholders, these committees comprise we ship gold. The Burkina Faso government retains through our longstanding engagement in the local authorities, government technical agencies, a 10% carried interest in Roxgold SANU S.A., which community is the opportunity to take part in traditional leaders, landowners, and youth and owns the Yaramoko exploitation permit including the local traditional events. In alignment with our women’s groups. Bagassi South expansion. commitment to uphold cultural heritage, since The Community Investment Program also stimulates This year, our Local Procurement Management 2016 Roxgold has supported the Bagassi Mask the local economy in the form of tenders and Plan (LPMP), designed to ensure mining activity Festival, organized by the WABAN association contracts for suppliers working on those projects. benefits local suppliers, partnered with West Africa of Bagassi. The festival seeks to preserve the Our major infrastructure projects last year included Governance and Economic Sustainability (WAGES), ancestral values and traditions of the Bwa the construction of four classrooms at World University Services of Canada (WUSC) and the people and attracts many local and national high school, three classrooms at the Niakongo village Center for International Studies and Cooperation participants every year. The event centres school, upgrades to the Koho medical centre, the (CECI) to identify challenges and opportunities for around leaf and wood masks representing construction of a waiting room at Bagassi medical local suppliers, especially while our mine extension nature and spirits and incorporates various centre, and a library in Bagassi. project was underway. types of traditional dance and music. In 2018 (and previous years), Roxgold has protected Setting Up Women for Success In Burkina Faso, a large portion of the population is additional sacred sites on the extended mine casually and sporadically employed, meaning a job Roxgold has a strong commitment to advancing site and supported traditional ritual events, at Roxgold – one of the largest employers in the the interests of the women in our communities. contributing to the preservation of these sites region – helps give households stability and the Since 2014, our initiatives have helped empower and, specifically, the Bwa culture. opportunity to prosper in the long term. local women to generate incomes, including the

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 9 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety Environmental Stewardship

Roxgold is determined to conduct our operations responsibly, which includes recognizing our obligation to the environment. On an ongoing basis, we monitor the environmental conditions of the areas surrounding our mines to evaluate the impacts of our activities and define strategies and plans to control and mitigate them. Our ESMS outlines our policies, plans, programs, procedures and tools for overseeing the environmental aspects of our business. We are committed to allocating the necessary resources to meet all environmental objectives, including long-term considerations, such as mine closure.

Case Study Tree Planting in Bagassi Since 2014, approximately 100,000 trees have been planted as part of 3 Roxgold’s ambitious reforestation campaign. This year’s goal to plant 0 207 162,458 m at least 15,000 trees was launched from Bagassi village high school Major non-compliance Environmental of water recycled with the Prefect, the head of the Provincial Service of Environment, the or significant incidents inspections in 2018 from tailings village chief of Bagassi, community members, and representatives of as our primary impact Roxgold’s employees and management team in attendance. By year’s prevention activity end, 19,000 trees had been planted – 16,940 forest species and 2,060 to protect the fruit species. An annual evaluation by the Bagassi forestry service in environment December 2018 found 87% of these trees continued to thrive.

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 10 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety

This year, 1,431 people received induction training A significant part of our mine site’s energy is hydro- covering Roxgold’s environmental policy, the generated, provided by the Burkina Faso High environmental risks associated with mining, the roles Voltage (HV) national power grid. On average, the and responsibilities of our employees, and the four power provided through the grid is very dependable, sections of our environmental management plan: with an availability rate above 90%, and backup waste management, environmental monitoring, fauna at the mine site for this system includes diesel- and flora protection, and pollution management. generated electricity. As a result, we are able to Over the last year, Roxgold experienced no major or realize a reduction in both operating costs and moderate environmental incidents and maintained CO2 emissions. a manageable environmental footprint. In the interests of transparency, we were pleased to provide Promoting Biodiversity government and local authorities with our annual In addition to prevention and control activities environmental and social management report for and as part of our environmental programs, Case Study 2017 and the half-year environmental and social Roxgold is committed to protecting and enhancing management report for 2018. biodiversity. Following the success of biodiversity Participative Monitoring projects implemented in previous years, such as Reducing Our Footprint Participative monitoring is recognized as a the reforestation program, additional projects best practice in the environmental stewardship Water is a highly valuable resource in our region, so were developed in 2018 in partnership with local of mines, helping local stakeholders to conservation and protection are especially important. stakeholders – for example, new educational gardens familiarize themselves with the Company’s Our process plant is designed to ensure zero for schools and improvement of water access approach, understand the mitigation measures discharge into the environment and recycle more for fauna in the conservation zone. put in place, and see for themselves that the than 70% of its water from tailings. As part of the To encourage biodiversity, we established mine’s activities do not negatively affect the ESMS, nearly 40 water-monitoring points (both inside partnerships with two local beekeeping associations. community. At the end of 2018, we invited and outside of the mining area) are analyzed against This relationship serves a dual purpose – the community representatives to participate in applicable national and international standards. Every presence of pollinators has proven benefits to the an annual environmental inspection performed week, we take samples to examine tailings water local ecology, while the production of honey and by the Burkina Faso government. Water quality, quality for weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide. development of beekeeping skills contributes to for example, is a matter of high importance According to the standards of the International economic development in the area. In 2018, Roxgold to the local people, and demonstrating good Cyanide Management Code, we have never exceeded donated 40 beehives – 20 to beekeepers practice in water monitoring helps establish the limit set for wildlife protection. Notably, audits within the mine area and 20 to the new Haho community trust and confidence. Due to the and inspections conducted by the government did bee farm. high interest from community members, this not identify any significant issues concerning the process has been formalized into quarterly impacts of our mining activities on the environment. participatory monitoring. Additionally, our monitoring program includes the participation of community representatives as part of our village borehole monitoring.

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 11 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety Performance Data

2018 2017 2018 2017 Royalties paid (US$) 7,529,000 6,443,000 Employee Health and Safety (continued) Lost time injuries (LTI – number) 1 0 Community Development Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) 0.39 0.00 Investments in community development-related 690,800 548,000 per 1,000,000 hrs worked activities (US$) Number of fatalities 0 0 Local formal consultations (number) 266 252 Local employment – from Burkina Faso (%) including 85% 87% Environmental Stewardship all contractors Environmental inspections (number) 207 235 Local employment – from Burkina Faso (%) 91% 92% Major non-compliances (number) 0 0 Roxgold only Environmental incidents or complaints (number) 8 11 Local procurement – from Burkina Faso (%) 90% 94% Trees planted (number) 19,000 32,470 Community grievances logged (number) 14 6 Estimated direct greenhouse gas emissions 3,225 2,159

(tonnes CO2e) Employee Health and Safety Water recycled (m3) 162,458 149,758 Workforce (number) 466 475 Groundwater withdrawn (m3) 42,603 33,645 Contractor employees (number) 556 360 Surface water withdrawn (m3) 182,200 151,812 Women in workforce (%) (Roxgold 12% 11% Total waste produced (m3) 1,739 1,925 and contractors) Waste disposal: landfill (m3) 0 0 Total labour (hours) 2,563,573 2,083,901 Waste disposal: incinerated (m3) 719.7 876.6 Training provided (hours) 18,271 18,825 Waste disposal: reused or recycled (m3) 674.3 529.4 Strikes and lockouts (number) 0 0 Waste disposal: stored (m3) 439.5 519.4 Job safety and environmental analysis (JSEA – number) 468 187 Electricity consumption (MWh) 30,502 26,769 Formal inspections (number) 1,108 958 Diesel consumption (ML) 4.00 2.95 Medical treatment injuries (MTI – number) 6 7

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 12 About Roxgold Letter from Our Approach Our Key Employee Community Environmental Performance Achievements the CEO Stakeholders Health Development Stewardship Data and Contact Us and Safety Achievements

Our Activities Roxgold is a Canadian-based gold mining company with assets located in West Africa.

Corporate Social Responsibility Award and Social Cohesion Special Award for best mining company received from Réseau Jeunesse in partnership with Diakonia, a Swedish development organization, during the 2018 West Africa Mining Activities Week (SAMAO) gala in Burkina Faso.

Yaramoko Gold Mine Contact Us Flagship Asset Burkina Faso

Séguéla Gold Project For more information: Acquisition www.roxgold.com Côte d’Ivoire

Corporate Office 360 Bay Street, Suite 500 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2V6 Tel: 416.203.6401 Fax: 416.203.0341 Email: [email protected]

Concept and Design: THE WORKS DESIGN COMMUNICATIONS worksdesign.com

Roxgold 2018 Sustainability Summary 13 Visit www.roxgold.com to learn more about our sustainability initiatives