World Class Mine Developer Joins Western Potash Corp.
Western Potash Corp. (the "Company") (TSX: WPX, FSE: AHE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Lock, P. Eng. as Project Director to develop the Company’s 100%-owned Milestone Potash Project. Richard will join the Western team on March 20th, 2012. Prior to joining the Company Richard worked at BHP/Rio Tinto’s joint-ventured Resolution Copper Mining Project in Superior, Arizona. As Project Director, Richard was responsible for the development of the multi-billion dollar project, including pre-feasibility studies and associated on-site activities (which include multiple shaft sinking activities for exploration and future development). Resolution hosts the third largest copper ore body in the world and is predicted to produce 25% of the US copper supply while creating 3,700 jobs and generating economic growth of over 61 billion USD.
Richard has more than 24 years experience in the mining industry, having begun his career with De Beers-Anglo American in South Africa. Richard later joined Rio Tinto's Diavik Diamonds Project (Diavik) at Lac de Gras in Canada’s Northwest Territories, where he took the project from the evaluation stage to production. Under Richard’s guidance as mine manager, the A154 dike/dam was awarded the professional engineering award of merit by NAPEGG and the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers national award for engineering achievement in May 2003. The Diavik mine remains a standout example of technical innovation in Canadian project engineering.
Prior to his work at Resolution Copper, Richard managed the design and construction of a large, successful bitumen recovery plant on an oil sands mining project in Alberta, Canada for Canadian Natural Resources Limited, an independent oil and natural gas exploration, development and production company. His experience in the development of an oil and gas recovery and production facility brings great value as it has a great deal of structural and engineering commonality with the potash recovery plant being envisioned at Milestone.
Patricio Varas, President & CEO of Western Potash Corp., commented: “We are delighted to have Richard join our project development team. Richard is a mine builder. He is a highly experienced mining professional with the skill set necessary to move a project of this scope through the feasibility process. Richard’s depth of experience and proven track record in all phases of engineering and construction are key ingredients that will help Western effectively execute on all our project processes. This appointment to the Milestone Project sends a clear signal that the Company is effectively assembling a world class team, dedicated to bringing a world class Potash project to production. Those of our management team that have worked with Richard at Diavik and Resolution relish the opportunity to work together to deliver the newest independent potash mine in Saskatchewan.”
About Western Potash
Western Potash Corp. is a mineral exploration company engaged in the evaluation, exploration and development of potash mineral properties in Western Canada. Western Potash Corp. is curently working toward the completion of a Positive Feasibility Study at its Milestone Potash Project in Saskatchewan. The Company intends to develop a world-class potash deposit in an ecologically sustainable, economically efficient and socially responsible manner.
For more information on Western Potash Corp.’s projects, please visit the Company’s website at www.westernpotash.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“J. Patricio Varas”
J. Patricio Varas
President and CEO
