Coalspur and CN sign definitive rail transportation agreement

• Coalspur and CN complete seven-year definitive transportation agreement for haulage of coal from Vista to Ridley Terminals
• Agreement also signed to govern the construction of a 6.5km rail line

CALGARY, March 27, 2013 /CNW/ - Coalspur Mines Limited ("Coalspur") (ASX: CPL), (TSX: CPT) is pleased to announce that it has reached a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") with CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) for the transportation of thermal coal from its Vista Coal Project ("Vista") to Ridley Terminals Inc. ("Ridley Terminals"), as well as final agreement with CN regarding the construction of the railway line to serve the mine.

Definitive Rail Transportation Agreement

The Agreement with CN is for a seven-year period, effective from 1 January 2013 and extending through to 31 December 2019. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, as with most western Canadian coal producers, CN will supply the equipment to carry Coalspur's coal to tidewater. The key elements of the Agreement are consistent with the terms announced by Coalspur on 14 December 2012 and include transportation of up to 12 million tonnes per annum ("Mtpa") of coal; and defined rates with agreed escalation and fuel surcharge calculations.

As a result of signing this Agreement, Coalspur is able to confirm that its logistics costs for Vista will be as outlined in the Coalspur press release date 20 December 2012. Total FOB operating costs for Vista are projected to be C$56.98 per tonne in the first five years of production, C$59.55 per tonne in the first ten years of production and C$66.40 per tonne over the life of the mine.

Rail Line Construction Agreement

Coalspur and CN have also signed an agreement which will govern the construction of a 6.5km long railway line providing CN access to Coalspur's loading site. The rail line will enable Coalspur to load the entire train in one continuous load. Subject to regulatory approval construction activity is expected to begin in Q3 2013 and be completed in early 2015.  CN will ensure the rail line meets their design and construction specifications.

"We are very pleased to have finalized these contracts with CN," said Gill Winckler, Coalspur President and CEO. "The agreements provide further clarity and stability over our operating costs in the initial years of mining at Vista. Rail and port logistics costs account for approximately 50% of Coalspur's FOB cash costs, which are now under contracted rates.

"Coalspur continues to deliver on its milestones. We are in the final stages of detailed negotiations for the funding arrangements for Vista and remain engaged with regulatory agencies so that we can secure regulatory approvals for Vista Phase 1, enabling us to commence construction in the second quarter of 2013."

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 including with respect to the rail line, development and operating costs including logistics 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