Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2026) - Fuerte Metals Corporation (TSXV: FMT) (OTCQB: FUEMF) ("Fuerte" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the award of the construction contract for the Northern Access Route ("NAR"), which will connect the Company's flagship Coffee Gold Project ("Coffee" or the "Project") to the City of Dawson and the Yukon highway network.

The NAR contract has been awarded to Cobalt Construction Inc. and represents a significant milestone for Coffee. Cobalt Construction is actively working with Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in to explore collaboration on this important aspect of the development of the Project, to reflect a cooperative approach between a Yukon-based contractor, a First Nation partner, and Fuerte. The NAR marks the first stage of early infrastructure development, positioning the Company to make a final construction decision, anticipated in early 2027 following the release of an updated Feasibility Study and receipt of final mine permits.

The Northern Access Route is designed to provide safe and reliable access to the Coffee Gold Project and will be constructed in accordance with regulatory requirements and environmental and social commitments. Equipment staging is underway, taking advantage of seasonal access windows, and construction activities will begin once the appropriate permits are issued by the Government of Yukon, who have guided toward permit issuance this spring.

Tim Warman, CEO of Fuerte, stated:

"Awarding the Northern Access Route construction contract is an important step forward for Coffee. We are proud to be working alongside Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in and Cobalt Construction in delivering this critical infrastructure. This collaboration reflects our commitment to responsible development, local participation, and building strong partnerships in the Yukon. Yukoners will directly benefit from the work, and the Company will benefit from the deep knowledge of the region that our partners bring. With mobilization already underway, we are positioning the project for success as we move towards a final construction decision early next year."

Hähkè (Chief) Taylor, Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in, commented:

"We look forward to exploring a partnership or other collaborative arrangement for the construction of the access road to the Coffee Project and strengthening our existing relationship with Fuerte through this first stage of work. First Nations and industry working together creates meaningful economic opportunities for our Citizens and ensures that development reflects our values and priorities of protecting the environment, our citizens and our treaty rights."

Shaun Rudolph, President of Cobalt Construction, added:

"Cobalt Construction is proud to partner with Fuerte to deliver this first stage of Coffee. As a Yukon-based contractor, we understand the importance of building infrastructure responsibly and efficiently. This project highlights the strength of local knowledge, partnerships and the benefits of working together to support responsible resource development in the territory. We look forward to formalizing our relationship with Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in to complete this work."

The Company looks forward to continuing engagement with First Nations, Dawson City, the Klondike Placer Miners' Association and other partners as the project progresses.

The construction of the NAR represents a meaningful economic contribution to the Yukon spanning a two-year period.

• The project will create employment and contracting opportunities for Yukoners, with focus on meaningful participation from First Nations communities
• An estimated C$77M will be spent on supplies, materials, equipment, and services during NAR construction, supporting local and regional businesses.

The NAR construction is the first critical contract for mine development, and the company expects to award additional contracts in the upcoming months.

Northern Access Route Details

The NAR is a 214 km, all-season gravel road that will connect the Company's Coffee Gold Project to the Yukon highway network and the City of Dawson. The NAR includes upgrades to approximately 180 km of existing road and construction or realignment of approximately 34 km of new single-lane, forestry-type access road with regular pull-outs to allow two-way operation. The NAR requires seasonal barge crossings on both the Stewart and Yukon rivers, with ice bridges in the winter months. Operation of the road will be governed by detailed management plans developed in consultation with the First Nations and Yukon Government, covering all aspects of safety, environmental protection and social impacts. The NAR routing falls wholly within Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Traditional Territory, with some new construction and upgrades in shared traditional territory with Selkirk First Nation and the asserted traditional territory of White River First Nation. Minor upgrades to existing road sections fall within shared traditional territory of the First Nation of Na-cho Nyäk Dun.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain of the statements made and information provided by Fuerte in this press release are forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, these forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates", "believes", "budget", "continue", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "guidance", "intends", "plans", "projected" or "scheduled" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements. Forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to: the 2026 early works program for the Coffee Project; the timing of a construction decision; the timing of permitting and engineering milestones; planned infrastructure upgrades; and, generally, the Company's strategy, plans, goals and priorities.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are by their nature based on a number of assumptions that management considers reasonable. However, such assumptions involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which, if proven to be inaccurate, may cause actual results, activities, performance or achievements to be materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements or information. These include assumptions concerning: timing, cost and results of exploration and development activities; the future price of gold and other base and precious metals; exchange rates; anticipated operating and capital costs, expenses and working capital requirements; royalty costs and the repurchase of royalties; the cost of, and extent to which the Company uses, essential consumables; the sustaining capital required for the Company's projects; and the geopolitical, economic, permitting and legal climate. Even though management believes that the assumptions underlying such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. Many assumptions are difficult to predict and are beyond the Company's control.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, activities, performance or achievements to be materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: inaccurate estimation of mineral resource; the results of exploration and development activities not being as anticipated; integration risks associated with acquisitions; liquidity and financing risks; changes in prices of gold, other base and precious metals and consumables; currency risk; tax matters; changes in general economic or market conditions; market volatility; competition for, among other things, capital and skilled personnel; legal and regulatory risks including failure to obtain necessary permits or changes in applicable mining laws; mineral tenure; failure to protect proprietary information; risks relating to operating in remote or foreign jurisdictions; risks of political instability, terrorism, sabotage, natural disasters or public health concerns; community relations and social license; geotechnical conditions or failures; reclamation and long-term obligations; risks relating to environmental, sustainability, and governance practices and performance; corruption, bribery, and sanctions; employee misconduct; litigation; conflicts of interest; tariffs and other trade barriers; and those risk factors discussed in our most recent Annual Information Form.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, the Company does not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with securities regulatory authorities.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286227

Source: Fuerte Metals Corp.