AXU Alexco Resource Corp

Aurora Energy Resources Inc. ("Aurora" or "the Company") (TSX: AXU) reports its financial and operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2008. Details of the Company's financial results are described in the unaudited financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for the six months ended June 30, 2008. Further details on each of the Company's projects and activities can be found on the Company's website http://www.aurora-energy.ca and on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Overview

The Corporation was incorporated on June 8, 2005, and operates in the mineral resource industry. Its principle focus is on the exploration and development of uranium projects in the Central Mineral Belt ("CMB"), Labrador, Canada, one of the most promising uranium districts in the world, as well as potential evaluation and acquisition of opportunities throughout the world. Aurora is committed to responsible development, which includes community consultation, lasting local benefits and the highest standards of safety, health, and environmental protection.

Aurora's properties in the CMB consist of a total of 223,074 acres in 28 licenses or groups of mineral claims. To date, the Company has identified six uranium deposits in the region, collectively containing a measured and indicated resource of 83.9 million pounds of U3O8 and an inferred resource of 49.8 million pounds of U3O8.(i)

The Company initiated its summer work program in May 2008 with an infill drill campaign at the Jacques Lake and Michelin deposits. This campaign was completed at the end of July 2008 and included 13,233 metres of drilling in 22 holes. The winter drill program finished on March 14, 2008 with 12,132.4 metres of drilling in 28 completed holes and 4 partial holes. Results from both the winter and summer programs have confirmed the continuity of grade and the overall potential of both Michelin and Jacques Lake and will assist Aurora with pre-feasibility work by contributing to the conversion of inferred to indicated NI 43-101 resource categories.

As part of the 2008 summer work program, Aurora is also continuing with engineering studies and is conducting a 3,750 metre geotechnical, environmental and metallurgical drill program from May until August which is expected to provide Aurora with valuable data for tailings studies and in moving the Michelin Project towards development. The Company has reaffirmed its commitment to building local stakeholder support with the recent formation of the Michelin Project Community Panel, a forum for the exchange of information on Michelin Project matters between community members and company representatives. As well, the Company has initiated the Michelin Project Training Plan to prepare community members for employment in ongoing exploration and development activities and, subject to regulatory approval, the longer term construction and operations phases.

Operations

Selected Financial Data

This summary of selected unaudited and audited(ii) financial data should be read in conjunction with the Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") and the unaudited and audited financial statements of the Corporation and related notes thereto, for the periods indicated.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               For the six months ended
                                                 June 30,          June 30,
                                                    2008              2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Loss and comprehensive loss for the period $   2,000,804    $    5,693,441

Basic and diluted loss per share           $        0.03    $         0.09

Cash invested in mineral properties        $  15,542,012    $    8,483,842

Cash generated (used) by financing
 activities                                $     727,393    $    2,476,827
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          As at
                                                 June 30,      December 31,
                                                    2008              2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash                                       $ 113,478,844    $  131,094,585

Working capital                            $ 113,245,791    $  129,898,119

Exploration properties and deferred
 exploration expenditures                  $  73,463,753    $   56,710,497

Total assets                               $ 192,100,949    $  192,186,937

Shareholder's equity                       $ 180,593,451    $  184,879,251
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ii) The December 2007 financial data are the only audited financial data

The Company's net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2008, was $2,000,804 or a loss per share of $0.03 compared to a net loss of $5,693,441 and loss per share of $0.09 for the six months ended June 30, 2007. An increase in interest income and reduction in stock-based compensation are the primary factors for the improvement in the Corporation's net loss in 2008 vs. 2007.

The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2008, consists primarily of wages and benefits of $1,474,505, stock-based compensation expense of $932,592, office and general expenses of $689,098, investor relations, promotion and advertising expenses of $412,538, consulting fees of $285,107 and Part XII.6 tax of $247,709 and, offset by interest income of $2,162,211.

Exploration Projects

The Company incurred cash expenditures of $15,537,892 for the six months ended June 30, 2008, on the development and exploration of its CMB uranium assets (net of stock-based compensation of $694,911, amortization of $232,489 and future income taxes of $283,844).

Liquidity

At June 30, 2008, the Company had cash on its balance sheet of $113,478,844 and working capital of $113,245,791, as compared to cash of $131,094,585 and working capital of $129,898,119 at December 31, 2007. The change in cash and working capital of $17,615,741 and $16,652,328, respectively, is primarily related to the use of funds for deferred development and exploration expenditures of $9,826,717 and $5,711,175, and the purchase of equipment of $302,313 offset by interest income of $12,162,211 and receipt of $550,800 upon the exercise of stock options.

The Company currently has no operating revenues other than interest income and relies primarily on existing cash balance to fund its exploration, development and administrative costs.

ABOUT AURORA

Aurora is a uranium exploration and development company focused on the Central Mineral Belt in coastal Labrador. It owns 100% of one of Canada's largest undeveloped uranium deposits. Aurora is committed to generating superior shareholder value and responsible development, with lasting local benefits. Aurora has offices in Postville, Makkovik, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, St. John's, Newfoundland, Toronto and Vancouver.

The Company hosted its annual general meeting on June 10, 2008 at The Rooms in St. John's, Newfoundland.

(i) The Michelin deposit contains a measured resource of 1.289 million tonnes of resource grading 0.12% U3O8 (underground) and 5.795 million tonnes of resource grading 0.08% U3O8 (open pit), an indicated resource of 16.170 million tonnes of resource grading 0.13% (underground) and 7.146 million tonnes of resource grading 0.06% U3O8 (open pit), and an inferred resource of 12.577 million tonnes of resource grading 0.12% U3O8 (underground) and 1.564 million tonnes of resource grading 0.05% U3O8 (open pit). The Jacques Lake deposit contains a measured resource of 0.415 million tonnes of resource grading 0.09% U3O8 (underground) and 0.401 million tonnes of resource grading 0.09% U3O8 (open pit), an indicated resource of 3.357 million tonnes of resource grading 0.08% (underground) and 1.909 million tonnes of resource grading 0.07% U3O8 (open pit), and an inferred resource of 2.778 million tonnes of resource grading 0.08% U3O8 (underground) and 2.210 million tonnes of resource grading 0.05% U3O8 (open pit). The Rainbow deposit contains an indicated resource of 1.088 million tonnes of resource grading 0.09% U3O8 and an inferred resource of 0.931 million tonnes of resource grading 0.08% U3O8 (both open pit). The Nash deposit contains an indicated resource of 0.757 million tonnes of resource grading 0.08% U3O8 and an inferred resource of 0.613 million tonnes of resource grading 0.07% U3O8 (both open pit). The Inda deposit contains an indicated resource of 1.460 million tonnes of resource grading 0.06% U3O8 and an inferred resource of 3.042 million tonnes of resource grading 0.07% U3O8 (both open pit). The Gear deposit contains an indicated resource of 0.520 million tonnes of resource grading 0.06% U3O8 and an inferred resource of 0.210 million tonnes of resource grading 0.06% U3O8 (both open pit). Aurora's CMB Mineral Resources are reported at cut-off grades that contemplate underground (0.05% U3O8) and open pit (0.03% U3O8) mining scenarios, based on preliminary economic assumptions, and may be refined with more in-depth economic analyses. For further details of the property interests of Aurora, please refer to the National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical report dated April 7, 2008 entitled "An Update on the Exploration Activities of Aurora Energy Resources Inc. on the CMB Uranium Property, Labrador, Canada, during the period January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007, Part II - CMB Mineral Resources" prepared by Ian Cunningham-Dunlop, P. Eng. and Christopher Lee, P. Geo., and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the timing and level of exploration activities, including drilling activities, the timing of completion of a pre-feasibility study and anticipated results of the 2008 work program; involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Aurora to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of uranium, economic and political stability in Canada, environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, labor and employment matters, and government regulation as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Aurora's Annual Information Form on file with the Canadian Securities Commissions. Although Aurora has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Aurora disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Contacts: Aurora Energy Resources Inc. Mark O'Dea President & CEO (604) 632-0110 or (709) 726-2223 Aurora Energy Resources Inc. Paul Coombs Chief Financial Officer (604) 632-0110 or (709) 726-2223 Website: www.aurora-energy.ca