Astur Gold Partners With Leading Environmental NGO for Salave Development
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 06/01/12 -- Astur Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: AST)(FRANKFURT: CDC) ("Astur Gold" or the "Company") announces that the President of the Fund for the Protection of Wild Animals ("FAPAS"), Roberto Hartasanchez and the President of Operations in Spain of Astur Gold, Francisco Lopez-Cancio, have signed a collaboration agreement. The Asturian NGO will advise the Company on its activities relating to the environment, with special emphasis on preservation, enhancement, and biodiversity values of the area in which the Salave mining project is planned.
Roberto Hartasanchez, President of FAPAS, stated, "This agreement opens the possibility for the first time in Asturias to develop a mining initiative in an environmentally friendly manner with respect to biodiversity. If it is implemented in the appropriate manner, and according to the intention of the parties, the relationship should serve as a template for future initiatives involving mining companies and environmental organizations."
Astur Gold's policy is to maintain and enhance affected terrain, marine, and air ecosystems of the area. Among measures under consideration, FAPAS will plan ecological initiatives to enhance the preservation and recovery of species and vegetation that support biodiversity and minimize visual impact.
This agreement is the first of several that Astur Gold is evaluating with various organizations to supplement the measures included in the Environmental Impact Study, which is currently being processed by the General Directorate of Mines of the Principality of Asturias.
ABOUT FAPAS
FAPAS is a non-governmental organization with thirty years of experience in the conservation of the Cantabrian mountain ecosystems and wildlife species that inhabit them, such as the brown bear, the grouse and carrion birds. What began as a group of friends trying to protect a small population of birds in the Picos de Europa, FAPAS has become one of the leading figures in protection of nature, based in Tunon, Asturias in North Spain, and has more than 18,000 collaborators all over the country.
ABOUT ASTUR GOLD
Astur Gold is developing its 100% owned Salave Gold Project in Asturias, northern Spain. Salave is one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Western Europe. The Company submitted its application for an underground mine permit for Salave in September 2011 and submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment in May 2012. Astur Gold is building a partnership with the people of Asturias to generate sustainable economic benefits for the region while balancing the needs of environmental protection and social community development.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Cary Pinkowski, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
This document contains certain forward looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays and uncertainties not under the Company's control which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performance or expectation implied by these forward looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Astur Gold Corp.
Vadim Dubchak
604-694-1600
(604) 694-1663 (FAX)
info@asturgold.com
www.asturgold.com
