VANCOUVER, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Western Canadian Coal Corp (TSX: WTN, WTN.WT and WTN.DB and AIM: WTN) ("Company" or "Western") announces filing of a revised technical report regarding the Belcourt coal property. The report entitled "Technical Report Belcourt Project" and dated March 2, 2009 can be found in the Company's filings on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). This report is filed to correct certain deficiencies for NI 43-101 reporting purposes in the report on the same subject filed on January 28, 2009 and does not change the proven reserves, the measured and indicted resources nor the potential production figures as previously reported. Highlights of the report include:
- 86 million tonnes of Proven Reserves of metallurgical coal in two
deposits, Belcourt North and Belcourt South.
- 167 million tonnes of Measured (including 2 million tonnes thermal)
and 4 million tonnes of Indicated Resources among the two deposits
- Potential production of 4 million tonnes per year of saleable clean
coal
- 15 years of production from defined reserves on the property
Sandwell Engineering Inc. prepared a feasibility study that is the basis
of the Technical Report. Numerous consultant specialists as outlined in the
Technical Report contributed to the study. Qualified Persons who are authors
of the Technical Report include:
- Geology & Resources - John H. Perry, P. Geo (internal), and Robert J.
Morris, P. Geo, Principal of Moose Mountain Member Corp.,
(independent);
- Reserves - Jay Q.L. Horton, P. Eng., Senior Mining Engineer with
Norwest Corporation (independent).
The Belcourt Property is held by the Belcourt-Saxon Coal Limited Partnership ("BSCLP"), in which Western has a 50% economic interest. BSCLP has the Belcourt, Belcourt West, Omega and Saxon coal properties located approximately 65 to 125 kilometres south of Tumbler Ridge, BC, where Western's Wolverine Operations are located.
The only changes in this filing from the previous report were to Section 22, which now delineates estimated costs required to complete the next phase of activities recommended in the report. The phase was not clearly defined and costs were not estimated in the previous report.
Western is solely and entirely responsible for the contents of this news release. This has been reviewed and approved by the Qualified Persons of the technical report, as cited therein. No other party, including any parties which have an interest in the project, are in any way responsible for the contents hereof.
About Western Canadian Coal
Western Canadian Coal Corp. produces high quality metallurgical coal from mines located in the northeast of British Columbia. The coal is sold to many of the top steelmakers in the world. The Company also has interests in various coal properties in northern and southern British Columbia and a 50% interest to explore and develop the Belcourt and Saxon group of properties in northern BC. Currently, these properties provide the company with an estimated 15 years of coal reserves at current production levels. For more information, please visit www.westerncanadiancoal.com
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and 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. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Western and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking information include changes in market conditions, variations in coal recovery rates, risks relating to operations, fluctuating coal prices and currency exchange rates, changes in project parameters, the possibility of unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, the business of the companies not being integrated successfully or such integration proving more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected as well as those risk factors discussed in the Annual Information Form for the year ended March 31, 2008 for Western available on www.sedar.com. Although Western has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Western undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
SOURCE Western Canadian Coal Corp.
