June 29, 2009 North American Tungsten Announces Cantung Mine To Be Placed On Care And Maintenance
North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd. (the "Company") announces that it will temporarily suspend production at its CanTung tungsten mine in the Northwest Territories, effective October 15, 2009 due to increased product inventory and declining tungsten prices. The mine will be placed on a care and maintenance program that will enable a timely and cost effective return to production when market conditions improve.
The Company will continue to sell product from inventory and will have sufficient material to satisfy all contractual sales obligations. The Company further plans to continue spot sales of product through early 2010. The Company intends to meet all its financial obligations while conserving cash for future growth. In addition, the Company is developing strategies for both short and long term funding.
"This has been a difficult decision as we have seen our tungsten team evolve to be among the best in the world. I am very proud of our team." said Stephen Leahy, Chairman and CEO. He further added "I expect that a tungsten supply shortfall will develop as the world economy improves. We fully intend to pursue plans to return the mine to full operations after markets have significantly firmed."
The Company will continue with its planned summer exploration drilling program at both the CanTung Mine and the MacTung Deposit to expand known resources. The majority of funds will be spent on the MacTung Deposit.
Permitting and development work will continue on the MacTung project.
ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN TUNGSTEN CORPORATION LTD.
The Company is a publicly listed Tier 1 Junior Resource Company engaged primarily in the operation, development, and acquisition of tungsten and other related mineral properties in Canada. The Company's 100% owned CanTung Mine and MacTung development project make it one of the few tungsten producers with both a producing mine and strategic development asset in the western world. MacTung is one of the world's largest known undeveloped high grade tungsten-skarn deposits.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"Stephen Leahy"
Stephen M. Leahy
Chairman & CEO
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." Cautionary Note: The Company relies upon litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements.
Cautionary Note
Safe Harbour Statement under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian legislation: Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented contains "Forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "believes," or variation of such words and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results to be taken, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd. To be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the actual results of reclamation activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, future prices of commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, efficacy and efficiency of milling process, failure of plant, equipments or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks in the mining industry. Although North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd. has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained herein and in North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd.'s other filing incorporated by reference.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources: This press release may use the terms "Measured," "indicated" and "inferred" Resources. United States investors are advised that while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulators, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. "Inferred Mineral Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources will ever be converted into Mineral Reserves. United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
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