Excellon Regains Access to La Platosa Mine
Toronto Stock Exchange - EXN
TORONTO, Aug. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX:EXN) ("Excellon" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has regained access to its La Platosa Mine in the state of Durango, Mexico. La Platosa has been under an illegal blockade commenced by the Ejido La Sierrita (the "Ejido") with the assistance and funding of the non-governmental organization ProDESC and the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros Metalúrgicos, Siderúrgicos y Similares de la República Mexicana, affiliated with the United Steelworkers Union.
Yesterday, the Company's work force peacefully regained regular access to La Platosa through a new alternate access with the aid of the Concerned Women of Bermejillo, a group of women from local communities that have been affected by the illegal blockade. This group of women escorted buses transporting workers through the blockade during shift changes yesterday afternoon and evening and this morning. They have pledged to continue supporting the restarting of the La Platosa operation and to continue demonstrating the support of local communities for Excellon and the livelihood it provides for hundreds of local families.
"The Concerned Women of Bermejillo provide a courageous example of the widespread support for Excellon in the local communities surrounding the La Platosa mine," stated Peter Crossgrove, Executive Chairman. "These women represent the families that rely on La Platosa for their daily livelihood and who recognize the transformative benefits that La Platosa has delivered to Bermejillo and surrounding communities in recent years. As clearly demonstrated by these brave women, La Platosa is an essential part of the local economy, providing 250 jobs and direct and indirect income to 380 families, as well as 50 workers and their families at our mill in Miguel Auza and hundreds of third party contractors and their families around Mexico. We look forward to working with them and other local community leaders to ensure that La Platosa resumes operating for the benefit of the many, rather than the enrichment of the few. As previously, we remain open and willing to have direct discussions with the Ejido La Sierrita when they realize that illegal coercion and public slander are not bases for mutually beneficial relationships."
Early yesterday morning, a combined group of state and federal authorities peacefully reopened access to the minesite via the new access - which at the time had only five blockaders. Later in the day, approximately 40 blockaders from the main mine entrance moved to illegally block this new access. In late afternoon, however, the Concerned Women of Bermejillo successfully disrupted the new illegal blockade, allowing workers access to the mine.
During the blockade, essential services have been maintained at La Platosa, including pumping operations. The Company aims to continue accessing La Platosa in the coming days with the aid of the Concerned Women of Bermejillo and with the aim of resuming full production when the situation stabilizes and ordinary course permits are received. In the event that the illegal blockaders interfere with the escort provided by the Concerned Women of Bermejillo, the Company will be forced to put the mine on full care and maintenance for an indefinite period.
Excellon has now posted further information regarding the Ejido, USW Union and ProDESC at www.excellonresources.com, as well as a summary of the demands made by the Ejido.
About Excellon
Excellon, a mineral resource company operating in Durango and Zacatecas States, Mexico, and Ontario and Quebec, Canada, is committed to building value through production, expansion and discovery. Excellon is Mexico's highest-grade silver producer; it produces silver, lead and zinc from the high-grade manto Mineral Resource on its large, 100% owned Platosa Property, strategically located in the middle of the Mexican CRD/silver belt. Excellon's focus is on expanding its operating capacity and increasing its Mineral Resources at Platosa where an exploration program focused on diamond drilling and advanced geophysical techniques is ongoing. The Platosa Property, not fully explored, has several geological indicators of a large mineralized system. The Miguel Auza Mill Operation in Zacatecas also has 41,000 hectares of underexplored land. Excellon also has ongoing gold exploration programs on the DeSantis Project, located near Timmins, Ontario and the Beschefer Project, located in northwestern Quebec. Both these projects host gold mineralization and significant potential for the discovery of more. Excellon will continue to use cash from operations to fund its ongoing exploration activities.
On behalf of
EXCELLON RESOURCES INC.
Peter A. Crossgrove
Executive Chairman
The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this Press Release, which has been prepared by management. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 27E of the Exchange Act. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including potential property acquisitions, the timing, content, cost and results of proposed work programs, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, geological interpretations, proposed production rates, potential mineral recovery processes and rates, business and financing plans, business trends and future operating revenues. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, significant downward variations in the market price of any minerals produced [particularly silver], the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties, and particularly the November 22, 2011 NI 43-101-compliant technical report prepared by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. with respect to the Platosa Property. This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States.
SOURCE Excellon Resources Inc.
Excellon Resources Inc.
Joanne C. Jobin, Vice President, Investor Relations
T. (416) 364-1130
E. info@excellonresources.com
W. www.excellonresources.com