Bema Gold receives Award for Excellence in Reclamation.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 1996-- Bema Gold Corporatio(TSE, VSE, AMEX BGO. ) Bema Gold Corporation ("Bema Gold") through its subsidiary, Idaho Gold Corporation (85 percent Bema Gold/15 percent Arizona Star Resource Corp.), is proud to announce that it received the following award on November 12, 1996, for reclamation work completed at its Champagne Mine near Arco, Idaho:

EXCELLENCE IN RECLAMATION - HARD ROCK MINES OVER 75 ACRES (1995)

Bema Gold was selected by the Idaho Interagency Reclamation Awards Committee which consists of personnel from various state and federal agencies including the Idaho Department of State Lands, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Health and Welfare (DEQ), Department of Water Resources and Department of Fish and Game. Dir Anne Fox, Land Board Member and Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction, presented the award.

Bema Gold successfully operated the Champagne Mine, an open-pit, heap leach gold and silver mine, from 1989 to 1993. The mine produced over 67,000 ounces of gold equivalent during this period. Mining ceased at Champagne in February 1993, as planned, when ore reserves were exhausted. The mining and related facilities caused approximately 137 acres of surface disturbance. Reclamation activities were completed by the fall of 1995 and consisted of washing contaminants from the leach pile, recontouring the leach piles, waste dumps, ponds and roads, covering them with previously stockpiled top soil, and reseeding with plant species native to the area.

Bema Gold worked closely with state and federal agencies and met State of Idaho water quality standards throughout mining operations. The Champagne Mine was the first major heap leach operation in Idaho to meet the State water quality standards for effluent from a rinsed leach pad, and is the first major disseminated gold property in the State of Idaho to be completely reclaimed.

Reclamation work completed by Bema Gold at the Champagne Mine has demonstrated Bema's commitment to environmental protection.

Bema Gold has subject to regulatory approval, allocated 750,000 common shares for Director and employee incentive stock options. These options may be exercised in whole or in part until December 9, 2001 at a price of $7.85 per common share. BEMA GOLD CORPORATION Clive T. Johnson Chairman, C.E.O. & President

The Vancouver and Toronto stock exchanges neither approve nor disapprove the information contained in this News Release. Bema Gold Corporation trades on the Vancouver, Toronto and American stock exchanges, symbol BGO.

CONTACT: Bema Gold Corporation

John Anderson, 604/ 681-8371

604/681-6209 (FAX)

1-800-316-8855