Excellence in Mineral Exploration. Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. has a strong and dedicated technical team who are focused on generating new projects that have great potential for discovery. Cornerstone leverages its own exploration funding through joint venture and strategic partnerships, providing shareholders with potential for success at lower risk. Cornerstone has a diversified portfolio of gold, silver, copper, nickel, VMS, potash, and uranium properties in Canada and Ecuador.
CORNERSTONE CAPITAL RESOURCES INC.: NEW MINING LAW APPROVED IN ECUADOR • • •
Press Release Source: Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. On Tuesday January 13, 2009, 12:08 pm EST o
Buzz up! 0 o
Print
MOUNT PEARL, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR--(Marketwire - Jan. 13, 2009) -
TSX VENTURE:CGP - News;
Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. ( PINK SHEETS:CTNXF - News; FRANKFURT:GWN - News; BERLIN:GWN - News) reports that the second debate on the new mining law was unexpectedly held in the Legislative Commission (congress) yesterday and the law was approved by a vote of 50 to 15. Cornerstone understands there were 11 revisions made to the statute during the debate; however, these have yet to be made public. The law now goes to the Executive branch which has 10 days in which to approve or veto the legislation. Following approval by the President the law will be published in the government register, a process which should be completed before the end of the month. Cornerstone believes this is a key event in the re-activation of exploration and mining activities in Ecuador and demonstrative of the government's commitment to fostering a responsible mining industry in the country. Nevertheless, there remain other administrative and regulatory hurdles to
clear before work can re-commence. These include enactment of new mining regulations to administer the law and clarification of environmental permitting procedures. Cornerstone will issue updates as the regulatory issues are resolved. About Cornerstone Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company based in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, with a diversified portfolio of projects in Canada and Ecuador and a strong technical team that has proven its ability to identify, acquire and advance properties of merit. The company's business model is based on generating exploration projects whose subsequent development is funded primarily through joint venture partnerships. Cautionary Notice: Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered as forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated or implied results. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein. On Behalf of the Board, Colin B. McKenzie, President & CEO The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CONTACT: Colin B. McKenzie Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. President & CEO Toll Free: 1-877-277-8377 Email:
[email protected] Website: www.cornerstoneresources.com
Buzz up! 0 Send Share Print
Ecuador Since my June update things have moved unsatisfyingly, but perhaps predictably, slowly in
Ecuador. The government has yet to enact the Mining Regulations (although promised for the end of the month) and while some companies have received the necessary interim environmental permits required to recommence field work, none yet have the final approval of the Minister of Mines and Petroleum (MMP). As a result there are no companies who have resumed project activities despite the government's lip service to expediting the re-initiation of field programs. Understandably, there is a lot of frustration and impatience within the industry. I can confirm from my July visit to the country that the government is under considerable pressure from both the senior mining companies and explorers like Cornerstone to break the bureaucratic logjam and issue the long-promised approvals. Also noteworthy is that Canada's Minister of International Trade, Stockwell Day, was in Ecuador at the end of August and raised mining issues with his Ecuadorian counterpart. He also announced that outgoing ambassador
Christian
LaPointe will head up a new regional Canadian foreign investment office in Quito to promote bilateral business between the two countries. In summary, while the go-ahead for projects seems imminent, with political foot-dragging and bureaucratic inertia the final "green light" remains uncertain. In our case, we have done everything required under the Instructivo issued in May to acquire our back-to-work permits. We understand that our environmental management plans have been internally approved by the Ministry of Environment for all properties; the penultimate step to receiving final approvals. We lastly need a sign off from the MMP following the positive recommendation from the Ministry of Environment to re-start work on our concessions. In the case of our Gama prospect where we are permitting a 60 hole drill program we also have the additional hurdle of obtaining a water use permit from the new water agency, Senagua. We have met with the head of the agency and have also initiated this process. In the meantime we continue to seek joint venture partners for Shyri and our other properties. A number of companies have carried out field visits as well as reviewed the data package. Last month we arranged meetings in Quito for an interested company in order to complete its political and legal due diligence. The positive response to Shyri has been encouraging and we believe that we will be able to attract a partner with operating expertise to the property. While awaiting the re-start of work on our properties, reconnaissance exploration is continuing on behalf of the Newmont strategic alliance within the Macará area of interest. Field work is following up high gold values in stream sediments obtained from our earlier surveys. Preliminary field results have been very encouraging and we are optimistic that recently discovered surface mineralization will prove to be the source of the geochemical anomalies. The field work is expected to continue through the next 2 to 3 months, following which Newmont will evaluate the results and decide whether to exercise their option to spend a further $3 million to earn a 51% interest in the project. We also completed the sale of our interest in the La Plata base metal property. The original vendor of the property Sultana del Condor, SA re-purchased our earned interest for $US 500,000,
a consideration which included certain amounts owed by Cornerstone to Sultana. The sale raised our cash balance to about $Cdn 1.3 million as reported in our second quarter results.