Heavy Rains Temporarily Suspend Operations at Kinross' Maricunga Mine

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - April 01, 2015) - On March 24, Chile's Northern Atacama region experienced an extreme weather event, with heavy rains causing flooding and damaging infrastructure. Mining operations throughout the region were affected, including Kinross Gold's (TSX: K) (NYSE: KGC) Maricunga mine, where mining and crushing operations, and the SART plant, remain temporarily suspended. The ADR plant continues to operate, producing gold from existing material in the heap leach.

The Company is assessing the extent of the damage to roads and power lines to Maricunga, which is located 120 km east of the city of Copiapó, at approximately 4,500 metres above sea level. The main road to Maricunga from Copiapó is currently impassable and power lines are down. The site is relying on generators to supply electricity to the camps and operate the ADR plant. Facilities at site have not sustained any damage.

At this time, Kinross does not anticipate that the temporary suspension of operations will impact the Company's regional production guidance for the year. The Company will provide an update on Maricunga's status once more information is available.

About Kinross Gold Corporation

Kinross is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company with mines and projects in the United States, Brazil, Chile, Ghana, Mauritania, and Russia. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: K) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: KGC).

Cautionary statement on forward-looking information
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release including, but not limited to, any information as to the future financial or operating performance of Kinross, constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the provisions of the Securities Act (Ontario) and the provisions for "safe harbour" under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release, include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to our guidance for production, production costs of sales, all-in sustaining cost and capital expenditures, as well as references to other possible, expected or anticipated events or outcomes, the future price of gold and silver, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, currency fluctuations, or words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should or will be achieved, received or taken, or will occur or result and similar such expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Kinross as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The estimates, models and assumptions of Kinross referenced, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the various assumptions set forth herein and in our most recently filed Annual Information Form ("AIF") and our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 ("2014 MD&A") as well as: (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting the operations of the Company, whether due to extreme weather events and other or related natural disasters, labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise, including but not limited to the recent extreme weather, and related flash floods and mudslides, impacting the Company's Maricunga mine, and required remediation, being consistent with the Company's expectations; (2) permitting, development and operations at the Company's operations being consistent with our current expectations;(3) political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of escalating political tensions and uncertainty in the Russian Federation and Ukraine or any related sanctions and any other similar restrictions or penalties imposed, or actions taken, by any government; (4) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar, Brazilian real, Chilean peso, Russian rouble, Mauritanian ouguiya, Ghanaian cedi and the U.S. dollar being approximately consistent with current levels; (5) certain price assumptions for gold, silver; (6) prices for diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (7) production, all-in sustaining cost and cost of sales forecasts for the Company meeting expectations; (8) the accuracy of the current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates of the Company (including but not limited to ore tonnage and ore grade estimates); (9) labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Kinross' current expectations; (10) the terms and conditions of the legal and fiscal stability agreements for the Tasiast and Chirano operations being interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with their intent and Kinross' expectations; (11) goodwill and/or asset impairment potential; and (12) access to capital markets, including but not limited to maintaining an investment grade debt rating. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: sanctions (any other similar restrictions or penalties) now or subsequently imposed, or other actions taken, by, against, in respect of or otherwise impacting any jurisdiction in which the Company is domiciled or operates (including but not limited to the Russian Federation, Canada, the European Union and the United States), or any government or citizens of, persons or companies domiciled in, or the Company's business, operations or other activities in, any such jurisdiction; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold or certain other commodities (such as fuel and electricity); changes in the discount rates applied to calculate the present value of net future cash flows based on country-specific real weighted average cost of capital; changes in various market variables, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, gold or silver prices and lease rates, or global fuel prices, that could impact the mark-to-market value of outstanding derivative instruments and ongoing payments/receipts under any financial obligations; risks arising from holding derivative instruments (such as credit risk, market liquidity risk and mark-to-market risk); political, legal or economic changes and other developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates including but not limited to changes in royalties or taxes (together with any related fine, penalty, surcharge, or interest imposed in connection with such taxes), and related controls, policies and regulation; business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, us; our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions and complete divestitures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations; litigation or other claims against, or regulatory investigations and/or any enforcement actions or sanctions in respect of the Company (and/or its directors, officers, or employees) including, but not limited to, securities class action litigation in Canada and/or the United States, or any investigations, enforcement actions and/or sanctions under any applicable anti-bribery, international sanctions and/or anti-money laundering laws and regulations in Canada, the United Stated or any other applicable jurisdiction; the speculative nature of gold exploration and development including, but not limited to, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits; diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; adverse changes in our credit rating; and contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, Kinross' actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Kinross,including but not limited to resulting in an impairment charge on goodwill and/or assets. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators of Canada and the United States including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the "Risk Factors" section of our AIF and in the "Risk Analysis" section of our 2014 MD&A. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Kinross. Kinross disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Other information
Where we say "we", "us", "our", the "Company", or "Kinross" in this news release, we mean Kinross Gold Corp. and/or one or more or all of its subsidiaries, as may be applicable.

Contact

Media Contact
Andrea Mandel-Campbell
Vice-President, Corporate Communications
phone: 647-788-4179
andrea.mandel-campbell@kinross.com

Investor Relations Contact
Tom Elliott 
Vice-President, Investor Relations 
phone: 416-365-3390 
tom.elliott@kinross.com