VANCOUVER, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Northern Dynasty
Minerals Ltd. ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") (TSX: NDM; NYSE
Amex: NAK) is pleased to announce that the Pebble Limited
Partnership (the "Pebble Partnership" or "PLP") has appointed
Réjean Carrier as Chief Operating Officer to lead the Pebble
Project operations and technical program.
Mr. Carrier is a geological engineer with 35
years of global experience leading large-scale development and
infrastructure projects from pre-development, engineering design,
and permitting through to construction and operations. His
professional experience spans numerous multi-billion dollar
development projects in nickel, aluminum, iron ore, concrete and
power generation.
Most recently, Mr. Carrier was Site Director and
Deputy Project Director for Konaimbo Nickel in New Caledonia, where he managed the
construction of a $5 billion nickel
operation including mine and mill-site development port
infrastructure, and a 350 MW power plant. Prior to that, Mr.
Carrier worked for SNC Lavalin as Senior Vice President of
Operations, Construction Division and Project Manager for the
Aluminum Division. There his work included management of
engineering procurement and construction for an aluminum smelter
complex in Qatar, and the
development of an aluminum smelter including port and power plant
in the United Arab Emirates
(UAE).
Northern Dynasty President and CEO Ronald Thiessen commented, "Réjean has
extensive experience working in northern climates similar to that
of the Pebble Project, as well as in leading globally significant
projects that combine significant mine-site development with
corresponding infrastructure elements, such as power, port and
road. His familiarity with North American permitting and regulatory
requirements, and his proven ability to develop local contracting
and workforce expertise, will help drive Pebble towards successful
project completion, while maintaining its commitment to responsible
mineral development."
About the Pebble Project
The Pebble Project is an initiative of the
Pebble Partnership to responsibly develop a globally significant
copper, gold and molybdenum deposit in southwest Alaska into a modern, long-life mine. The
project is located 200 miles southwest of Anchorage on state land
designated through two public land use planning exercises for
mineral exploration and development. It is situated approximately
1,000 feet above sea-level, 65 miles from tidewater on Cook Inlet
and presents favourable conditions for successful mine site and
infrastructure development.
The Pebble Project consists of the Pebble
deposit, surrounding mineral claims and a stream of financing being
provided by Northern Dynasty's project partner Anglo American US
(Pebble) LLC. The Pebble Partnership was established in
July 2007 as a 50:50 partnership
between a wholly-owned affiliate of Northern Dynasty and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Anglo
American plc. Both Northern Dynasty and Anglo American have equal ownership and
direction of the Pebble Partnership.
Under the terms of the Pebble Limited
Partnership Agreement, Anglo
American is required to elect to commit $1.5 billion in staged investments in order to
retain its 50% interest in the Pebble Project. Funds provided by
Anglo American are currently being
invested in comprehensive exploration, engineering, environmental
and socioeconomic programs toward the future development of the
Pebble Project.
About Northern Dynasty
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. is a mineral
exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada, which holds indirect
interests in 650 square miles of mineral claims in southwest
Alaska, USA. Northern Dynasty's
principal asset is a 50% interest in the Pebble Partnership, owner
of the Pebble Copper-Gold-Molybdenum Project. The Pebble Project is
an advanced-stage initiative to develop one of the most important
mineral resources in the world.
Review Canadian public filings at www.sedar.com
and US public filings at www.sec.gov.
Ronald W.
Thiessen
President & CEO
Forward Looking and other Cautionary
Information
This release includes certain statements that
may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this
release, other than statements of historical facts that address
exploration drilling, exploitation activities and other related
events or developments are forward-looking statements. Although the
Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are
not guarantees of future performance and actual results or
developments may differ materially from those in the forward
looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements
include market prices, potential environmental issues or
liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining
activities, exploration and exploitation successes, continuity of
mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain
necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party
opposition, changes in and the effect government policies regarding
mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation,
continued availability of capital and financing, and general
economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned
that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance
and actual results or developments may differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information
on Amarc Resources Ltd., investors should review the Company's
annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction
filings that are available at www.sedar.com.
SOURCE Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.