West Hawk Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement With Lu'An
Monday September 24, 9:54 am ET
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 24, 2007) - As clarification to an unknown sourced news release that originated from SinoCast via COMTEX dated September 20, 2007 titled, "Luan Coal Mine Group Signed Contract with West Hawk", West Hawk Development Corp. ("West Hawk") (TSX VENTURE:WHD - News; FRANKFURT:H5N - News; the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a New Energy and Coal Chemical Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Luan Mining Industries Group to develop three New Energy and Clean Coal Chemical Bases in China and in North America. They are (1) Shanxi Lu'an New Energy and Clean Coal Chemical Base, (2) Xinjiang New Energy and Coal Chemical Base, and (3) a third North America site yet to be determined, Clean Coal Chemical New Energy Base. The new CTL technology and components, developed by New York Energy Group (NYEG), will be used for the development of new energy and coal chemical projects in all three bases.
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The CTL plant is projected to be more efficient and cleaner than traditional technology and the modules are less capital intensive. This technology will apply clean technology for control of NOx, SOx, Particulates, Mercury, and it is projected that CO2 will be used in the system with carbon and oxygen separation. The CTL unit will also supply cost effective co-products with materials that would otherwise be waste.
West Hawk Development has signed an exclusive marketing and services agreement with New York Energy Group to supply all New York Energy Technology in China.
Dr. Jinsheng Chen has been appointed to the position of President and CEO of the West Hawk Asia Energy Unit.
This first WHD/NYEG Coal to Liquids unit will be a 50/50 joint development between West Hawk Development and the Luan Mining Industries Group with New York Energy Group supplying all of the gasification and liquids technology and components.
This first project will consist of a CTL plant that will produce between 25 and 35 million gallons of liquids per year with diesel fuel being the primary product. A feasibility study is underway between West Hawk China Operations and Luan Industries. Until the feasibility study is completed, the economic viability will be uncertain. The projected cost of the first unit is approximately US$200 million. The Strategic Cooperation Agreement contemplates building six units.
Bill Newell, President and CEO of New York Energy Group, stated "I am extremely pleased with the work of Dr. Hart and Dr. Chen and West Hawk to bring about this opportunity for the WHD/NYEG companies and to apply this state of the art technology to a China market that is in dire need of clean and cost effective energy."
West Hawk Development is in the process of furthering it's arrangement with New York Energy Group and have signed an MOU to be the exclusive distributor of all of it's Coal to Liquids and Coal related Carbon Dioxide Utilization Technology in North America. Final Contractual arrangements are in the process of being completed.
West Hawk Development has the coal assets to build out this technology in North America and Luan has the coal assets in China. The British Columbia Groundhog asset, the North West Territories Tulita Coal asset, and a western U.S. coal asset are all potential sites for Coal to Liquids and CO2 utilization.
West Hawk is also working on a Coal to Liquids site in West Virginia and has had several meetings with Governor Manchin who is a major supporter of coal to liquids because of energy security reasons for the U.S.
The first China CTL plant will be designed to be a 500 ton per day plant. The output is projected to be approximately 25 to 35 million gallons per year of clean products. Subsequently, more units can be added in parallel to increase production. West Hawk Development and Luan will raise the financing to support this project.
Chairman Ren of Luan Industries Group stated that "I am extremely excited about the potential of the clean and environmentally friendly coal to liquids technology and I am pleased that West Hawk Development has introduced it to us. China must use clean coal technology to advance its great potential in a cost effective way and in an environmentally friendly way and it appears that this technology can get the job done."
Mr. William Polan, President and CEO of Global Investments, introduced the New York Energy Group Technology to West Hawk Development and stated that, "I'm very excited about having the opportunity to work with one of the world's foremost experts in coal gasification, Dr. Wm. Mark Hart."
Going forward, West Hawk Development is going to streamline its properties and focus its activities on coal gasification and CO2 eradication.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Dr. Wm. Mark Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer
About the Company: West Hawk Development Corp is focused on providing valuable, high-demand energy products from a variety of sources. Assets include the Figure Four natural gas property located in the Piceance Basin, Colorado, being developed under a drilling and development agreement; the Tulita coal property in the Northwest Territories; the Groundhog coal property located in northwest British Columbia; and the Ellesmere Island, Nunavut Territory coal property.
Cautionary Note: This report contains forward looking statements, particularly those regarding cash flow, capital expenditures and investment plans. Resource estimates, unless specially noted, are considered speculative. The Company has filed a National Instrument 51-101 Report on the Figure Four property. The Company has filed National Instrument 43-101 Reports for each of the Tulita coal property in the Northwest Territories, the Nunavut Coal property and the Groundhog Coal property. Any and all other resource or reserve estimates are historical in nature, and should not be relied upon. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on factors that will or may occur in the future. Actual results may vary depending upon exploration activities, industry production, commodity demand and pricing, currency exchange rates, and, but not limited to, general economic factors. Cautionary note to U.S. investors: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission specifically prohibits the use of certain terms, such as "reserves" unless such figures are based upon actual production or formation tests and can be shown to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not yet reviewed and does not take responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.
Contact:
Dr. Wm. Mark Hart
West Hawk Development Corp.
President and Chief Executive Officer
(604) 669-9330
(604) 669-9335 (FAX)
Email: info@westhawkdevelopment.com
Website: www.westhawkdevelopment.com
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