Final report and recommendation for the mine and concentrator in the NT
in preparation
Issued Capital: 117,076,976
LONDON, ON, Oct. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Fortune Minerals Limited (TSX-FT) (OTCQX-FTMDF) ("Fortune" or the
"Company") (www.fortuneminerals.com) is pleased to report the closing of the public registry for the
Environmental Assessment ("EA") review process to permit the mine and
mill for the Company's 100% owned NICO gold-cobalt-bismuth-copper
project in the Northwest Territories ("NT"). The Mackenzie Valley
Review Board ("MVRB") closed the registry on October 22, 2012 after
receiving the final arguments from the Company. The MVRB is now
preparing its Report of Environmental Assessment that will contain the
recommendation on the project to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and
Northern Development Canada. This report is to be completed within 90
days and will then be placed on the public registry, pending
Ministerial review.
Dr. Richard Schryer, Fortune's Director of Regulatory and Environmental
Affairs, commented, "We are very confident that, with the refined
project design and the impact mitigation measures in place, NICO will
not have a significant adverse impact on the environment, and the
project will provide significant economic benefits to the nearby Tlicho
communities and economy of the NT."
The final two days of public hearings for the NICO project were held in
the community of Behchoko on October 10 and 11, 2012. These additional
public hearing days were scheduled to allow the MVRB and other
participants in the EA to consider the information collected in the
Tlicho Government's Traditional Knowledge ("TK") report. In the spirit
of the Co-operative Relationship Agreement signed with the Tlicho
Government in 2011 (see November 8, 2011 news release), Fortune funded
this TK study. A summary of the study results and information on the
NICO Project Access Road were presented on the first day, whilst the
final day was dedicated to a public venue for residents to provide
comments on the project to the MVRB. Notably, the Company was not
assigned any undertakings as a result of these additional two days of
public hearings and Fortune believes that it adequately addressed the
few remaining environmental concerns associated with the project.
Fortune is also advancing towards the completion of the EA process in
Saskatchewan to permit its planned hydrometallurgical refinery, the
Saskatchewan Metals Processing Plant ("SMPP"), where Fortune will
process NICO concentrates to high value metal products. On September
20, 2012, Fortune submitted its addendum to the Environmental Impact
Statement ("EIS") to the Saskatchewan Environmental Assessment Branch
("SEAB"). After review, SEAB will post the EIS, technical review
comments and addendum for public comment, followed by SEAB's
recommendation to the Saskatchewan Minister of Environment.
Fortune is also pleased to report that it recently joined the Canadian
Council for Aboriginal Business's ("CCAB") Progressive Aboriginal
Relations ("PAR") program at the Committed Level. The PAR program is
the first and only corporate responsibility assurance program in the
world with an emphasis on aboriginal relations. Over the past year,
Fortune has worked with guidance and support from the CCAB to document
practices, policies and behaviours that quantify and validate the
Company's commitment to positive and progressive aboriginal relations.
The Company has been assessed to be performing at the Gold Level and is
striving for formal recognition at this level in due course through
completion of the certification process.
Bill Shepard, Fortune's Procurement and Logistics Manager, commented, "I
take great pride from being part of an organization that considers
positive and progressive aboriginal relations key to its success. Our
Company is very appreciative of the acknowledgement it received from
the CCAB through the PAR program."
About Fortune Minerals:
Fortune is a diversified resource company with several mineral deposits
and a number of exploration projects, all located in Canada. The
Company is focused on the development of the Arctos Anthracite Project
in British Columbia and the NICO gold-cobalt-bismuth-copper deposit in
the NT. As part of the development of the NICO deposit, Fortune is
developing the SMPP in Saskatchewan to process NICO concentrates to
high value metal products. The Company has acquired and dismantled
equipment from the Golden Giant Mine at Hemlo, Ontario for relocation
to NICO. In addition, the Company owns the Sue-Dianne
copper-silver-gold deposit and other exploration projects in the NT.
Fortune is focused on outstanding performance and growth of shareholder
value through assembly and development of high quality mineral resource
projects.
This press release contains forward-looking information. This
forward-looking information includes, or may be based upon, estimates,
forecasts, and statements as to management's expectations with respect
to, among other things, the completion of the EA processes for the NICO
project and the SMPP and the proposed development of and anticipated
production from the NICO project. Forward-looking information is based
on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information
is given, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and
other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ
materially from those projected in the forward-looking information.
These factors include the risk that the Company may not receive
favourable recommendations from the applicable regulatory authorities
pursuant to the EA processes for NICO and/or the SMPP, the risk that
the Company may not be able to arrange the necessary financing to
construct and operate the NICO mine and/or the SMPP, the possibility of
delays in the commencement of production from the NICO project, the
inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral
properties, the risk that actual capital and operating costs for the
NICO project may differ from those anticipated, uncertainties with
respect to the receipt or timing of required permits and regulatory
approvals, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results
and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices and other factors.
Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking
information because it is possible that predictions, forecasts,
projections and other forms of forward-looking information will not be
achieved by the Company. The forward-looking information contained
herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no
responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new
events or circumstances, except as required by law.