COPPER (Cu) PRODUCERS

[NYBob]

Northgate Minerals Corporation -
(TSX: NGX; AMEX: NXG)

Northgate Reports Record Quarterly Earnings
and Cash Flow and Announces That its Project
Debt Facility has Been Retired

VANCOUVER, February 23, 2006 –
(All figures in US dollars except where noted) -

Northgate Minerals Corporation -
( TSX: NGX; AMEX: NXG) today reported cash flow
from operations before changes in working capital
of $41,872,000 or $0.20 per common share and
net earnings of $37,857,000 or $0.18 per share
for the fourth quarter of 2005.

Cash flow from operations
for all of 2005 was $66,521,000 or $0.33 per share
and earnings were $32,887,000 or $0.16 per share.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

* Production of 94,405 ounces of gold and
24.7 million pounds of copper.

* The net cash cost of Gold production at
the Kemess mine -
was a record low of $59 per ounce -
lowering year to date
cash cost to $205 per ounce.

* Record quarterly cash flow from operations
before working capital and other items of $41.9 million
and record quarterly earnings of $37.9 million.

* Completed the acquisition of Young-Davidson Mines,
Limited, acquiring 1.5 million ounces of gold resources
within a prospective land package located in the prolific
Kirkland-Larder Lake Gold Belt of northeastern Ontario.

* On February 15, 2006, Northgate repaid the remaining principal on its syndicated credit facility.



http://www.northgateminerals.com/press_release_files/pr_feb23_2006.html

http://www.northgateminerals.com/frame_aboutnorthgate.html

Gold Producers - Low Cost Mines -
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