Strongbow’s South Crofty Receives Water Discharge Permit British Tin Project Fully Permitted for Production Decision

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Strongbow Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:SBW) (“Strongbow” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has received Permit EPR/PP3936YU from the United Kingdom Environment Agency allowing the discharge of up to 25,000m³ of treated water per day from the South Crofty mine. Untreated water from historic mining operations (pre-Strongbow) currently flows directly into the Red River. Strongbow’s new permit allows the Company to proceed with construction of a mine water treatment facility that will lead to a material improvement in the quality of water discharged.

This means the South Crofty tin project is now fully permitted with Underground Mine Permission (issued in 2013) valid for another 54 years until 2071, and Planning Permission for the construction of a new process plant, including the water treatment plant, construction of which will begin immediately.

Richard Williams, Strongbow Chief Executive Officer, stated; “The receipt of this permit is the culmination of a collaborative effort between the United Kingdom Environment Agency, our lead consultants W. S. Atkins and Strongbow. The planned water treatment facility will ensure that the dewatering of the South Crofty mine is conducted in a way that respects and benefits the local environment. As we move towards our final feasibility, we are very hopeful that our work will lead to the generation of new jobs with the re-opening of the South Crofty 'clean tin' mine in this historic and world-class tin mining district.  It is exciting to be commencing the next phase of this project including dewatering the mine and completion of the feasibility study.”

Chief Operating Officer Owen Mihalop stated: “Our team has done a tremendous job over the last 15 months, completing a NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate, discharged conditions related to the process plant planning permission, published a positive PEA, successfully completed a 4-month water treatment trial, and now receiving the water discharge permit.”

The Water Treatment Plant (“WTP”)

The WTP will use Siltbuster Process Solutions Ltd’s (“Siltbuster”) high density sludge process to recover suspended solids and dissolved metals from the mine water prior to discharge into the Red River. 

Siltbuster has been retained to oversee the process design and commissioning of the WTP.  Nomenca Limited, a subsidiary of North Midland Construction PLC Group has been retained to complete the detailed design, engineering and manage the construction of the WTP.  A diagram of the WTP can be found here. Construction of the WTP will begin immediately.

For additional information please contact Irene Dorsman at (604) 671 0632 or by e-mail at idorsman@strongbowexploration.com or Sherman Dahl of Pretium Communications at (250) 558-8340.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

“Richard D. Williams”
Richard D. Williams, P.Geo

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which are based on management’s best estimates and assumptions at the time the forward-looking statements are made. Certain disclosures in this news release relating to management’s plans to treat and discharge up to 25,000 m/³ of water from the South Crofty tin project, including potential benefits to the environment and the existing Red River water quality, the potential flood risk associated with this activity as well as potential future benefits resulting from the successful de-watering of the mine, our ability to complete a feasibility study and to make a production decision for South Crofty are all forward-looking statements which are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and other factors related to Strongbow’s operation as a mineral exploration company that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.   

Although Strongbow intends to use a proven technology to treat the mine-water before it is discharged into the Red River and the results from a test program conducted in early 2017 were positive, no assurances can be given that Strongbow will be successful in its efforts to de-water the South Crofty project, or that the treated mine water will result in a material improvement to the Red River water quality and surrounding environment. Any failure to meet the water quality guidelines in the discharge permit could result in a temporary suspension or cancellation of the permit, which would have a material adverse impact on the project’s development. In addition, there can be no assurance that a feasibility study for the South Crofty will be positive, thereby enabling Strongbow to make a production decision; there are a number of factors which determine project economics, several of which (such as the price of tin and the market for tin) are not within Strongbow’s control. If such estimates are inaccurate or are reduced in the future, this could have a material adverse impact on Strongbow.

Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to receipt of regulatory approvals, the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to general economic and market conditions; risks related to the availability of financing; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; actual results of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in mineral resources or grade; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations.

Although Strongbow has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statement. Strongbow undertakes no obligation or responsibility to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.