OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – May 18, 2016) – Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX VENTURE:ORE) is pleased to announce it has received the formal and final approval by the Ministry of Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change⁽¹⁾ for the Resettlement Action Plan (“RAP”) and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”) with respect to its ongoing mining permit application for its wholly owned Bomboré gold Project in Burkina Faso.

With the environmental approvals in hand, the project will be presented, in the coming weeks, to the National Commission of Mines⁽²⁾. The presentation is the final step in the permitting process before a decision can be made by the Council of Ministers and decreed by the Government to grant the mining permit; expected during the third quarter of 2016.

About Orezone Gold Corporation

Orezone is a Canadian company with a successful gold discovery track record and mine development experience in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The Company owns a 100% interest in Bomboré, the largest undeveloped oxide gold deposit in West Africa, situated 85 km east of the capital city, adjacent to an international highway. The Company has completed a Feasibility Study and received all environmental approvals for a mining permit at Bomboré that is expected during the third quarter of 2016.

Tim Miller, COO, Pascal Marquis, SVP and Ron Little, CEO of Orezone, are Qualified Persons under National Instrument 43-101 and have reviewed the information in this release. Readers should refer to the annual information form of Orezone for the year ended December 31, 2015 and other continuous disclosure documents filed by Orezone since January 1, 2016 available at www.sedar.com, for this detailed information, which is subject to the qualifications and notes set forth therein.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “potential”, “possible” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may”, “will”, “could”, or “should” occur. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding, among others; receiving a mining permit at Bomboré during the third quarter of 2016.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

⁽¹⁾ Ministère de l’environnement, de l’économie verte et du changement climatique

⁽²⁾ Commission Nationale des Mines