APM Andean Precious Metals Corp

Erdene Resource Development Corp.  ("Erdene") (TSX:ERD), today provided an
update on the Company's principal projects in conjunction with the release of
its year end financial results.


"In 2008, Erdene made substantial progress in advancing the Company's projects,"
said Peter Akerley, President and CEO.  "In 2009, we will continue to pursue our
goal of assisting our partners with the development of the Donkin coal and
Granite Hill aggregate projects to production in 2010, while positioning the
Zuun Mod molybdenum project for start-up when the global economy recovers.  Our
focus continues to be on two regions: China and the eastern seaboard of the
United States, where we see tremendous opportunity for long term growth in the
commodities we are targeting.  Going into 2009, Erdene is well financed and in
an enviable position compared to our peers.  We will be prudently managing our
financial resources while advancing these core projects and investigating growth
opportunities."


Project Summaries and Updates

Donkin Coal Project

The Donkin coal project is a joint venture between Erdene and Xstrata Coal
Canada, who own 25% and 75%, respectively.  Located in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia,
the project is within 35 kilometers of a coal-fired electrical generating plant
and a deep-water coal loading facility.  Donkin is being evaluated as a
five-million-tonne-per-annum underground longwall mining operation.  Markets are
anticipated to be both domestic and export.  The short shipping distances by
water to the east coast of the United States places Donkin in an ideal position
to enter this expanding market.


The project is in the feasibility stage of a Continuous Miner Exploration and
Development program designed to test the suitability of the deposit for longwall
production.  A workforce of 12 continues to advance tunnel refurbishment and
maintain the site in advance of a development decision.  The project has cleared
regulatory requirements, including environmental approval, has distributed
requests for tenders and entered into negotiations with potential consumers. 
The goal of the joint venture remains the commencement of production in 2010. 
However, one outstanding matter that must be finalized before the commencement
of mining is to have a coal off-take agreement signed with potential domestic
and international customers with whom the joint venture is currently in
discussions.


Thermal coal is expected to remain the principal fuel for long term growth of
electricity production in the industrialized western nations.  A large,
high-energy coal resource proximal to a deep-water port is unique and positions
Donkin to be competitive in the Atlantic seaborne thermal coal markets.


Zuun Mod Molybdenum Project

At the Zuun Mod molybdenum project in Mongolia, the fourth quarter saw the
completion of a resource expansion and definition drill program.  Several holes
drilled to test the central area of the deposit indicated a deposit thickness of
at least 400 metres averaging 0.06% molybdenum with multiple higher grade zones,
including 70 metres of 0.11% molybdenum in the northeastern portion of the
deposit.


These data add to an initial resource estimate, reported in May 2008, that
totaled 110 million tonnes averaging 0.061% molybdenum in the Measured and
Indicated category.  The current focus is on revising the May 2008 resource
estimate by incorporating the 2008 drilling data.  During 2009 the project will
be advanced at a pace reflecting the current economic environment, with limited
resource, environmental and hydrogeologic studies focused on moving the project
to a mining licence stage.  During this period Erdene will continue to assess
the market to determine when the project should be accelerated toward
feasibility.  At the same time, the Company will evaluate options to secure a
strategic partner.


Coal Projects In Mongolia

Erdene is involved in a comprehensive coal generative and acquisition program in
Mongolia that evaluates numerous prospective metallurgical and high-quality
thermal coal deposits.  The program is being fully funded by our partner,
Xstrata, with whom we are coordinating operations.  Mongolia borders China,
which is the world's largest coal consuming nation.  Estimates suggest that over
the next 25 years, China will need to secure approximately six million tonnes
per month of new coal production to meet demand.


During 2008, Erdene conducted numerous property evaluations with three
properties reaching the drill-tested stage.  Although results on these
properties do not warrant follow-up exploration, Erdene will continue property
evaluation work during 2009 to identify and secure large-tonnage coal deposits. 
The Erdene-Xstrata coal alliance is positioning to become a major participant in
the coal industry of Mongolia.


Advanced Primary Minerals Corp.

In July 2008, Erdene moved forward with its business plan to create a dedicated
vehicle for the Company's primary kaolin operations by initiating a reverse
takeover of Beta Minerals Inc. ("Beta"), a TSX Venture-listed company.   With
the conclusion of the deal on February 27, 2009, Erdene took a major step
forward in its development of a specialty mineral products manufacturing
business.  Beta changed its name to Advanced Primary Minerals Corporation
("APM") and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV:APD) with Erdene as
majority shareholder.


The goal of APM is to be North America's leading specialized kaolin producer. 
Much of the premium kaolin clay deposits in Georgia and the UK have been
depleted over the past century.  APM's primary kaolin products meet or exceed
the quality of comparable foreign imports and domestic sources.  APM looks to
take advantage of that situation with its unique, high quality primary clay
deposits and modern processing facilities to focus on small to moderate-volume
opportunities and high-margin specialty products.  Proximity to domestic markets
and elimination of foreign exchange risk add a strong competitive advantage over
comparable foreign imports.  Kaolin is used in the manufacture of value-added
products for the ceramics, paint and paper industries.


APM controls high-quality deposits of primary kaolin clay in Georgia.  These
properties currently hold an NI 43-101 resource of 25.5 million tons (Indicated
and Measured).  APM is also in the final stages of constructing a new
state-of-the-art kaolin processing facility in Dearing, Georgia that is
scheduled to begin production in the second quarter of 2009.


Granite Hill Aggregate Project

Erdene's Granite Hill project is a former producing granite aggregate quarry in
central Georgia.  Erdene owns the 342-acre property, which holds in excess of a
120 million-ton resource and is situated on an existing rail line.  It is
currently leased to Ready Mix USA, a major construction materials producer,
which is responsible for fully funding the project in return for a royalty on
sales payable to Erdene.


All necessary permits have been obtained and construction is to be completed
nine to 12 months after a production decision by Ready Mix USA.  Their quarry
development plan provides for an estimated start-up production rate of one
million tons of granite aggregate per year, with a design capacity of up to 2.5
million tons.  Based on current production projections, the Granite Hill quarry
will have an estimated lifespan in excess of 30 years.


Year End Financial Results Summary

Erdene's year end 2008 financial statements and Management's Discussion and
Analysis were filed with regulatory authorities on March 31, 2009 and are
available on the Company's website at www.erdene.com and on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.


For the 12 months ended December 31, 2008, exploration and operating expenses
amounted to $1,858,544, compared to $4,146,178 in fiscal 2007. Including
capitalized costs, exploration expenses were $9,415,073 for 2008 and $13,826,792
for 2007 respectively.


The expenditures were directed toward the continued advancement of the Company's
primary projects, namely the Donkin coal project and Zuun Mod molybdenum
project. Specifically, expenditures by project were as follows:


- Zuun Mod: $3,710,393 for the 12 months ended December 31, 2008.

- Donkin: $3,917,644 for the 12 months ended December 31, 2008.

- Coal exploration in Mongolia funded by Xstrata: $1,065,826 for the 12 months
ended December 31, 2008.


Administrative expenses totalled $2,306,334 for the year (including $467,423 in
stock based compensation and $52,752 in depreciation), compared to $2,427,062 in
2007 (including $910,218 in stock based compensation and $49,952 in
depreciation).


The Company recorded a loss of $3,592,391, or $0.04 per share, in fiscal 2008
compared with a loss of $6,651,063, or $0.11 per share, in fiscal 2007.  At
December 31, 2008, Erdene had approximately $16.2 million of cash and cash
equivalents on hand compared with $8.7 million at December 31, 2007.


Outlook

Erdene is well positioned to continue project development activities.  The
successful share offering in mid-2008 and the recent reverse takeover of Beta,
with nearly $2 million in cash, has funded the Company to continue all budgeted
operations and commitments.  These include, upon receipt of all necessary
approvals, Erdene's share of the Donkin continuous miner exploration and
development program.  Erdene has instituted cost-cutting measures to reduce
expenses during 2009 by decreasing administrative overhead and scaling down or
postponing early-stage and grassroots exploration programs.


Going forward, Erdene will remain focused on developing projects associated with
the Company's core commodities, which consist of coal, base metals, gold and
industrial minerals.  Management continues to believe that these commodities,
especially in Asia and North America, have strong long-term market fundamentals.
 At the same time, Erdene will investigate opportunities for further expansion
through organic growth, joint ventures and acquisitions.


New Website Launched

Erdene is pleased to announce the Company's website has been updated to make it
even more user-friendly and informative.  Visitors to 'www.erdene.com' will find
Company highlights, project information, commodity data, up-to-date investor
presentations and most recent webcasts, all newly packaged for easy viewing and
reference.


The redesigned 'Featured Items' section of the home page highlights the most
up-to-date investor information and presentations.  For example, 'Update
Webcast' is an interview with Peter Akerley, President and CEO, who details the
Company's most recent activities and projects.  Another featured item is 'Asia
Mining Congress Presentation', which Mr. Akerley gave in Singapore on March 24,
2009.  The session provides a concise overview of Erdene's key projects in the
energy, metals and industrial minerals sectors.


About Erdene

Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a diversified resource company with
multiple projects at various stages of development from exploration to
production, all focused on high-growth commodities.  Erdene has a current
working capital position of approximately $17.0 million with 89,230,877 common
shares issued and outstanding and a fully diluted position of 98,445,852 common
shares.


Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 
Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions,
forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of
fact.  Although Erdene believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such
expectations will prove to have been correct.  Erdene cautions that actual
performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond
its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what
Erdene currently foresees.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices,
exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and
financing and general economic, market or business conditions.  The
forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this
cautionary statement.  The information contained herein is stated as of the
current date and subject to change after that date.

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