Pacific Rim Cobalt Commences Topographical Survey

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. (CSE:BOLT) (FRANKFURT:NXFE) (OTCQB:PCRCF) (the “Company” or “Pacific Rim Cobalt”) a resource company with assets located proximal to the world’s largest cobalt market, has commenced the 2018 work program at its 100% controlled, 5000 hectare Cyclops Cobalt-Nickel Project (formerly the “TNM Project”) in the Papua province of Indonesia.

As an initial step to guide the 2018 work plan, the Company has begun detailed drone-operated topographic and photographic surveys with overflights across key targets within the property. The resulting data will provide control for planned exploration activities, including geological mapping, sampling, test pitting and diamond drilling to confirm historically reported cobalt-nickel-bearing laterite zones.

The project area has year-round access by road from the nearby Sentani regional airport and is close to the administrative capital, Jayapura, which provides access to personnel and infrastructure. Additionally, the Cyclops Project is directly situated on coastal tidewater in direct shipping proximity to Asia, the world's largest cobalt consumer.

Ranjeet Sundher, Pacific Rim Cobalt's President and CEO, noted: "Like many business endeavors, project expertise combined with prime location can play a key role in the success or failure of an enterprise, especially in the resource sector. We believe that cost-effective ocean-going proximity to the largest cobalt markets in the world, combined with our strong in-country experience, makes for a truly attractive business proposition. It appears that the raw material supply chain for the battery sector is becoming increasingly recognized as an opportunity with significant growth potential."

During 2018, diamond drilling and test pit excavations will be undertaken to delineate the lateral and vertical extent of cobalt and nickel mineralization within the project area.

“We also expect to commission metallurgical studies of laterite materials from the Cyclops Project for test processing at a North American-based pilot processing facility later this year,” continued Mr. Sundher. “The studies are intended to guide development of best-practice industrial-scale processing methods for battery-grade cobalt and nickel sulphates, both of which are critical inputs for the rapidly growing lithium-ion battery industry."

The company further advises it has developed and instituted an ongoing program to identify and evaluate other Indonesian cobalt opportunities to enhance its position in the sector and is currently carrying out due diligence on a number of projects of strategic interest within the region.

The Company has granted stock options to acquire up to 300,000 common shares of the Company to certain consultants and advisors to the Company. Each of the stock options is exercisable for a five-year term expiring on June 12, 2023 at a price of $0.45 per common share. The option price was set on June 11, 2018, the last day that the Company's common shares traded prior to the option grant, at which time the closing price of the common shares traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange was $0.45. The options are subject to vesting provisions, with 50% vesting six months from the date of grant and the remaining 50% on the first anniversary of the date of grant. The stock options are non-transferable.

Qualified Person
Mr. Garry Clark, P. Geo., Independent Director of Pacific Rim Cobalt, is the qualified person as defined in NI 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content in this release.

About Pacific Rim Cobalt (CSE:BOLT) (FRANKFURT:NXFE) (OTCQB:PCRCF)
Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp. is a Canadian publicly listed company currently focused on the development of cobalt projects within Indonesia. It’s TNM cobalt project encompasses cobalt and nickel mineralization as well as excellent infrastructure for year-round development activities. The Company believes cobalt will be the next dominant investment trend related to the critical components of lithium-ion batteries. Cobalt is currently in a global supply deficit, has a vulnerable supply chain, and is part of an emerging sector with extraordinary potential. Pacific Rim believes that the quality of our assets and our proximity to markets give us the opportunity to be a leader in the cobalt development space. For more information, visit: www.pacificrimcobalt.com.

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CONTACT
Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp.
Ranjeet Sundher – President and CEO
(604) 922-8272
rsundher@pacificrimcobalt.com

Steve Vanry – CFO & Director
(604) 922-8272
steve@vanrycap.com

Sean Bromley – Director & Investor Contact
(778) 985-8934
sean@theparmargroup.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in both Pacific Rim Cobalt’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding future oriented events and other statements that are not facts. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Pacific Rim Cobalt operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such factors. Although Pacific Rim Cobalt has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Pacific Rim Cobalt disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Pacific Rim Cobalt does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company herein.