Alderon Signs Engineering, Procurement & Construction Management Agreement

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/03/13 -- Alderon Iron Ore Corp. (TSX: ADV)(NYSE MKT: AXX) ("Alderon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it, through The Kami Mine Limited Partnership, has entered into a definitive Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management Agreement (the "EPCM Agreement") with WorleyParsons Canada Services Ltd. ("WorleyParsons") who will be the engineering, procurement and construction management ("EPCM") contractor for the development of the Kami Iron Ore Project (the "Kami Project"). The budget for the EPCM Agreement with WorleyParsons is estimated at $92.5 million, which is consistent with the cost estimate set out in Alderon's Feasibility Study for the Kami Project.

A request for expressions of interest was issued in May 2012 to 10 Engineering & Construction firms and following an extensive evaluation, WorleyParsons was selected based on their health, safety and environment ("HSE") performance, technical and project management expertise, Newfoundland & Labrador ("NL") experience, global reputation and financial and commercial parameters. Alderon announced in November 2012 that it had entered into an Interim Engineering and Planning Services Agreement (the "Interim Agreement") with WorleyParsons, which allowed Alderon to continue to move ahead with detailed engineering. The EPCM Agreement replaces the Interim Agreement and provides the framework for all of the EPCM services that WorleyParsons will provide going forward.

"Alderon is looking forward to continuing to work with WorleyParsons and developing the Kami Project," says Tayfun Eldem, President and CEO of Alderon. "We were impressed with their commitment to and performance in workplace health and safety along with their track record in successful execution of EPCM mega projects in the natural resources sector."

About Alderon

Alderon is a leading iron ore development company in Canada with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, St. John's and Labrador City. The Kami Project, owned 75% by Alderon and 25% by Hebei Iron & Steel Group Co. Ltd. ("HBIS"), is located within Canada's premier iron ore district and is surrounded by four producing iron ore mines. The Alderon team is comprised of skilled professionals with significant iron ore expertise to advance Kami towards production. HBIS is Alderon's strategic partner in the development of the Kami Project and China's largest steel producer.

For more information on Alderon, please visit our website at www.alderonironore.com.

ALDERON IRON ORE CORP.

On behalf of the Board

Mark J Morabito, Executive Chairman

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to (i) the development and construction of the Kami Project; (ii) the budget for the EPCM services; and (iii) production from the Kami Project. In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words 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 state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, receipt of governmental and other approvals, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the realization of resource estimates, iron ore and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future exploration and development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs, the availability of necessary financing and materials to continue to explore and develop the Kami Property in the short and long-term, the progress of exploration and development activities, the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, the completion of the environmental assessment process, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not commence at the Kami Property, risks relating to variations in mineral resources, grade or recovery rates resulting from current exploration and development activities, risks relating to the ability to access rail transportation, sources of power and port facilities, risks relating to changes in iron ore prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of iron ore and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for iron ore and related products and in the mining industry generally, risks related to current global financial conditions, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the development process, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licences and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, including the risk that the financing necessary to fund the exploration and development activities at the Kami Property may not be available on satisfactory terms, or at all, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interest, risks related to disputes with Aboriginal groups, environmental risks, and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form for the most recently completed financial year or other reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

Contacts:

Alderon Iron Ore Corp.

Montreal Office

514-281-9434

514-281-5048 (FAX)


Alderon Iron Ore Corp.

Vancouver Office

604-681-8030

604-681-8039 (FAX)


Alderon Iron Ore Corp.

Ian Chadsey

Investor Relations

1-514-817-5799 or 1-888-990-7989
iron@alderonironore.com
www.alderonironore.com