Denver, Colorado - December 22, 2005 - Constellation Copper Corporation (CCU:TSX) announces that as a result of a project review completed this week and an acute skilled labor shortage in the Western United States, the first copper cathode production at Lisbon Valley will be delayed beyond mid- to late January as previously announced.
Mining Operations:
Mining, crushing and stacking operations at Lisbon Valley were successfully started in October 2005. To date, approximately 750,000 tons of ore have been mined, crushed, stacked and acid-cured on the leach pad and are now under leach. Application of leaching solutions started on December 19, 2005, with the objective of building a substantial volume of pregnant copper solution prior to plant startup.
Plant Construction:
Construction of the SX/EW process plant is currently +95% complete, with completion of pipefitting being the only significant outstanding task remaining. The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, coupled with the increased number of Western US mining and energy fuels construction projects during 2005, has caused an acute shortage of pipe-fitters. This shortage, coupled with the upcoming Christmas - New Year's holiday break, has slowed the completion of the SX/EW recovery plant beyond the current physical completion schedule of early-January. Constellation is currently making every effort to locate pipe-fitters to enable construction of the process plant to be finalized. Once completed, water testing of the components of the processing plant will take approximately 2 weeks prior to processing copper-rich pregnant solution. An additional week will be required to build sufficient copper electrolyte volume to fill the electrowinning plant prior to commencement of copper cathode production.
Copper Production:
Given the above situation, stripping of the first copper cathode is now anticipated three weeks after plant completion. The delay in start-up could push achievement of full production capacity to late April, and reduce the forecasted copper production in 2006 from 48 million pounds to 43.5 million pounds. Constellation will attempt to make up this projected production shortfall once start up has been achieved and copper cathode production has commenced.
Exploration at Flying Diamond:
Exploration drilling has commenced on the southern end of the Flying Diamond deposit and expanded target area, at the Stateline project in Colorado. The Flying Diamond deposit is located four miles south and down valley from the Lisbon Valley processing plant, and could supply additional feed for continued copper production at Lisbon Valley beyond the current anticipated mine life. Abundant copper staining occurs in outcrop in the Stateline project area. Results from this drilling program are anticipated in January 2006.
For further information please contact:
Constellation Copper Corporation
Gregory A. Hahn, President, CEO
Michelle Hebert, Manager, Corporate Affairs
Tel: (720) 228-0055
Toll Free: 1-877-370-5400
Fax: (303) 863-1736
Renmark Financial Communications Inc.
Neil Murray-Lyon : nmurraylyon@renmarkfinancial.com
Tina Cameron : tcameron@renmarkfinancial.com
Media - Cynthia Lane : clane@renmarkfinancial.com
Tel. : (514) 939-3989
The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
____________________________________________
Lynda Martineau
Media Relations Coordinator
Coordinatrice - Relations M'edias
RENMARK FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIONS INC.
2080 Ren'e-L'evesque Blvd. West
Montreal, QC H3H 1R6
Tel. : (514) 939-3989 Ext. 1111
Fax : (514) 939-3717
www.renmarkfinancial.com
