Royal Nickel Corporation ("RNC") (TSX: RNX) is pleased announce it is the recipient of the 2013 e3 Plus Award, an annual award given by the AEMQ (Quebec Association of Mineral Exploration).
The e3 Plus Award recognizes a company for its high level of environmental and social responsibility and its compliance with the leading practices outlined in e3 Plus: A Framework for Responsible Exploration. e3 Plus was developed by the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) to support exploration companies in the continuous improvement of their social, environmental, and health and safety performance.
"The RNC team is honored to be recognized with the e3 Plus award from AEMQ," said Tyler Mitchelson, President and CEO. "I am particularly proud of the high standard of work behind the positive Dumont Nickel Project feasibility study results that we announced in June of this year. Our focus on environment, health and safety, and community is a fundamental cornerstone of our development approach for the Dumont project. In particular, we take great pride in the success of our stakeholder relations activities, including our ongoing extensive voluntary public consultation process. I believe these efforts are essential to the responsible development of our project."
In a statement the AEMQ commented, "The Quebec Mineral Exploration Association is very pleased to present the e3 Plus award to Royal Nickel Corporation in recognition of their efforts in terms of responsible mineral exploration. The company not only stands out through its approach to communication and social acceptability, which began early in the development process of the Dumont Project, it also enthusiastically shares these initiatives, thus helping to improve the practices of the mineral sector of Quebec."
When in production, RNC's Dumont project is expected to be one of the largest base metal mines in Canada and one of the top five sulphide nickel producers globally. The Dumont feasibility study (see RNC technical report dated July 25, 2013) estimates the project will produce an average of 90 million pounds of nickel annually and employ an average of approximately 500 people in the Abitibi region over a 33 year project life. RNC's targeted key milestones for Dumont in the near term include the completion of partnership and financing arrangements in advance of the receipt of permits, expected by mid-2014.
About Royal Nickel Corporation
Royal Nickel Corporation is a mineral resource company focused primarily on the acquisition, exploration, evaluation and development of base metal and platinum group metal properties. RNC's principal asset is the Dumont Nickel Project strategically located in the established Abitibi mining camp, in the municipalities of Launay and Trécesson, 25 kilometres northwest of Amos, Quebec. RNC has a strong management team and Board with over 100 years of mining experience in the nickel business at Inco and Falconbridge. RNC's common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol RNX.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information" including without limitation statements relating to obtaining financing for Dumont, engaging a project partner, completion of permitting, the future price of nickel, advancing Dumont into construction and other targeted milestones.