Coalspur and CN Agree on Key Supply Chain Terms Logistics' Costs for Vista Project Finalized

• Coalspur and CN enter binding legal agreement outlining key terms for a definitive commercial agreement for our coal supply chain partnership
• Terms agreed include rates, term and escalation
• Final terms agreed with CN produce logistics savings at full capacity (12.0 Mtpa) compared with the Vista Feasibility Study
• Total logistics costs, which comprise approximately 50% of Vista's estimated FOB cash cost, are now certain
• Vista's total FOB cash costs for the first 10 years of production are under C$60 per tonne, ensuring Coalspur is well placed to weather the cycles in thermal coal markets

CALGARY, Dec. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - Coalspur Mines Limited ("Coalspur") (ASX: CPL, TSX: CPT) is pleased to announce that it has agreed on binding key terms ("Key Terms") for the definitive commercial transportation agreement with CN ("CN") (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI). The Key Terms agreed with CN for Coalspur's Vista Coal Project ("Vista") now complete the logistics costs for Vista.

Coalspur and CN have agreed on an innovative seven year commercial contract that forms the foundation for a collaborative coal supply chain for Vista. At full production of twelve million tonnes per annum ("Mtpa"), the agreement with CN will enable Coalspur to achieve savings in total logistics costs from the Vista Feasibility Study released in January 2012.

Coalspur President and CEO, Gill Winckler said, "Securing these key terms of the rail agreement with CN is an important milestone for us, providing certainty around our logistics costs and confirming the strong business relationship that we are building with CN. The agreed terms effectively recognise the scale of the Vista operation and will reduce our projected total FOB operating cost to deliver savings of approximately C$20 million per annum over the first five years of production as compared to the Vista Feasibility Study.

Vista's cost risk profile has now been substantially reduced as we have locked in approximately 50% of Vista's estimated FOB cash cost. Coalspur now projects total FOB costs to be approximately C$57 per tonne in the first five years of production and below C$60 per tonne in the first ten years of production, which will ensure we are able to weather the cyclical nature of thermal coal markets."

Commenting on the agreement reached with Coalspur, Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, said, "CN is pleased to have reached this agreement with Coalspur, which helps advance the Vista project. Our comprehensive supply chain approach to managing the flow of coal from mines to west coast terminals improves transparency of the process and improves coal logistics and customer service. We expect Coalspur will also benefit from this end-to-end view of our coal supply chain when production commences in 2015."

The Key Terms provide Coalspur with up to 12.0 Mtpa of rail allocation and are structured to reflect the production profile of Vista. Key Terms agreed include rates, term and price escalations for the first five years of production, commencing in 2015. Similar with most Western Canadian coal producers, CN plans on supplying equipment to carry Coalspur's coal to tidewater.  The definitive agreement is expected to be executed in the first quarter of 2013.

The full version of this news release is available on the Company's website at www.coalspur.com and SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Regulatory Disclosures
For further information regarding the Vista Coal Project and Vista Extension, including a description of Coalspur's quality assurance program, quality control measures, the geology, samples collected and testing procedures in respect of the projects, please refer to the technical report titled "Coalspur Mines Limited: Updated Resource Estimate for the Vista Coal Project" dated September 12, 2012. For further information regarding the Vista South Coal Project, including a description of Coalspur's quality assurance program, quality control measures, the geology, samples collected and testing procedures in respect of the project, please refer to the technical report titled "Resource Estimate for the Vista South Coal Property" dated June 25, 2012. The technical reports for the Vista Coal Project, the Vista South Coal Project, and Vista Extension are compliant with National Instrument 43-101 - "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" ("NI 43-101") and are available for review on SEDAR at sedar.com.

Competent Person / Qualified Person Statements

The information in this news release that relates to Coal Resources on the Vista Coal Project and Vista Extension, mining engineering, Recoverable Coal Reserves, capital costs, mining operating costs, and economic financial analysis, process capital costs and associated infrastructure, and all other scientific and technical information in this Report is based on information compiled by Mr. David Leslie, who is a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. Mr. Leslie is a full-time employee of Coalspur.  Mr. Leslie has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking to qualify as a "Competent Person" as defined in the 2004 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves' ("JORC Code"), and a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101. Mr. Leslie has approved and consents to the inclusion of such information in this news release in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this news release that relates to coal quality and process yield estimates to derive Marketable Coal Reserves is based on information compiled by Mr. Gordon Mudryk, who is a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta. Mr. Mudryk is a full-time employee of Coalspur. Mr. Mudryk has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking to qualify as a "Competent Person" as defined in the 2004 Edition of the JORC Code, and a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101. Mr. Mudryk has approved and consents to the inclusion of such information in this news release in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this news release that relates to Coal Resources on Vista South is based on information compiled by Mr. John Innis, who is a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta. Mr. Innis is a full-time employee of Coalspur. Mr. Innis has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking to qualify as a "Competent Person" as defined in the 2004 Edition of the JORC Code, and a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101. Mr. Innis has approved and consents to the inclusion of such information in this news release in the form and context in which it appears.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning Coalspur, including statements regarding Coalspur's plans for its mineral projects, development plans and timing, development and operating costs, production, regulatory approvals, exploration and development activities, and other matters. These statements relate to analyses and other information that is based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Actual results could differ materially from the conclusions, forecasts and projections contained in these forward-looking statements.

Statements concerning Mineral Resource Estimates may also be deemed to constitute "forward-looking statements" to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if a given property is developed. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including those referred to in the Company's Annual Information under the heading "Description of the Business - Risk Factors", and elsewhere.

Coalspur's forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date hereof and which Coalspur believes are reasonable in the circumstances, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct.  In making the forward-looking statements the Company has applied several material assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to: (1) that all required third party approvals will be obtained for the development, construction and production of its properties; (2) that additional financing will be available on reasonable terms; (3) there being no significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; (4) permitting, development and expansion proceeding on a basis consistent with the Company's current expectations; (5) currency exchange rates being approximately consistent with current levels; (6) certain price assumptions for coal; (7) production forecasts meeting expectations; (8) the accuracy of the Company's current mineral resource and reserve estimates; (9) labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with the Company's current expectations; and (10) assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation.

Coalspur disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Coalspur Mines Limited