Novawest & Brightstar (PGE)

[Ed Monton]

I guess the private placement at .375 slowed down the advance.


NOVAWEST RESOURCES INC.

May 12, 2003

NovaWest Resources Inc.(the “Company”) Symbol “NVE” on the TSX Venture Exchange is pleased to announce that the Company has arranged the placement of the full $1.5 million Private Placement that was announced on April 22, 2003. Upon closing, the Company will issue 4,000,000 Units at $0.375 Cdn. per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share and one share purchase Warrant. The Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional share of the Company at a price of $0.50 Cdn. The Warrants will expire on April 30, 2004. A finder’s fee, per the TSX Venture Exchange guidelines, will be paid on all funds raised. One half of any finder’s fee payable will be paid in cash with the remaining half to be paid in stock. All shares issued will be subject to any applicable hold periods. $1.0 million of the proceeds from the private placement will be used for exploration on the Company’s Raglan project and the remainder of the proceeds will be used for other exploration and operating capital. All terms are subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

NovaWest invites the public to visit its website at http://www.novawest.com or e-mail us at [e-mail] to be added to the Company's e-mail list for press releases and updates.



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NOVAWEST RESOURCES INC.

"Patrick D. O'Brien - Chairman"