Coalspur Commences Detailed Design Engineering On Vista

Highlights:

• Detailed engineering has commenced which will build on the recently completed feasibility study and provide for the final mine, infrastructure and process design for the Vista Coal Project
• CWA Engineering Inc., which was extensively involved in the recently completed Vista feasibility study, awarded contract for EPCM
• Commencing detailed engineering during 2012 will allow for construction to begin immediately following final regulatory approvals which are expected to be received at the end of Q1 2013

CALGARY, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Coalspur Mines Limited ("Coalspur" or "Company") (ASX: CPL) (TSX: CPT) is pleased to announce that it has contracted CWA Engineering Inc. ("CWA") to commence detailed engineering on its flagship Vista Coal Project ("Vista"). CWA will be responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction management ("EPCM") and will engage sub-contractors to perform other specialized services.

An owner's team of project professionals will be responsible for the overall project management for Coalspur.

Commenting on the commencement of the detailed engineering, Mr Gene Wusaty, Managing Director and CEO, said "This announcement marks another key milestone in the development timeline of Vista. CWA has been highly involved in the development of Vista and has demonstrated its ability to carry out the EPCM role. CWA was responsible for the infrastructure and materials handling components of the feasibility study on Vista and has worked closely with Coalspur's management. In conjunction with commencing detailed engineering, we are also in the process of finalizing and submitting the necessary regulatory applications required for construction to begin on the first phase of Vista. We anticipate receiving all regulatory approvals of these applications and to have substantially progressed detailed engineering by the end of Q1 2013, which will position us to begin construction on Vista."

In addition to CWA and an experienced Coalspur owner's team, Coalspur will utilize a number of internationally recognized engineering firms with significant coal industry experience to participate in the detailed engineering.

Detailed Engineering Scope

The detailed engineering will focus on the following:

• Detailed mine development aspects of the project
• Infrastructure and material handling design
• Materials testing and quality assurance/quality control
• Detailed designs for the water and processed fines containment structures
• Materials procurement
• Health and safety

About CWA

CWA was responsible for the capital cost estimate and the infrastructure and materials handling engineering components of the Vista feasibility study and have demonstrated their ability to lead the EPCM role for the detailed engineering. CWA is a consulting engineering and project management firm with a track record of successfully delivering multi‐discipline engineering projects in Canada. CWA's expertise includes feasibility studies and full service project and construction management. CWA has recent engineering and construction experience in the coal fields of northeast British Columbia and brings significant Canadian cold weather experience.

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 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 projects, please refer to the technical report on the Vista Coal Project titled "Coalspur Mines Limited: Feasibility Study of the Vista Coal Project, Hinton, Alberta" dated January 26, 2012 and the technical report on the Vista South Project titled "Resource Estimate for the Vista South Coal Property" dated December 15, 2010, which 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

All scientific and technical information in this Report is based on information compiled by Mr. Eugene Wusaty, who is a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. Mr. Wusaty is a full-time employee of Coalspur. Mr. Wusaty has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which 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', and a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101. Mr. Wusaty has approved and consents to the inclusion of such information in this Report in the form and context in which it appears.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains 'forward-looking information' that is based on the Company's expectations, estimates and projections as of the date on which the statements were made.  This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect to the development of Vista, the Company's feasibility study, the mine plan, drilling programs, time lines and completion dates, permits and approvals, business strategy, plans, development, objectives, performance, outlook, growth, cash flow, projections, targets and expectations, mineral reserves and resources, studies, results of exploration and related expenses.  Generally, this forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'will', 'expect', 'potential', 'outlook', 'anticipate', 'project', 'target', 'likely', 'believe', 'estimate', 'intend', 'may', 'would', 'could', 'should', 'scheduled', 'plan', 'forecast', "evolve" or variations of such terms and similar expressions. Persons reading this news release are cautioned that such statements are only predictions, and that the Company's actual future results or performance may be materially different.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.  Such factors include, without limitation, inherent uncertainties and risks associated with mineral exploration; uncertainties related to the availability of future financing necessary to undertake activities on the Company's properties; uncertainties related to general economic conditions; uncertainties related to global financial conditions; risks related to the integration of businesses and assets acquired by the Company; risks associated with the Company having no history of earnings or production revenue; uncertainties related to the possible recalculation of, or reduction in, the Company's mineral reserves and resources; uncertainties related to the outcome of studies to be undertaken by the Company; uncertainties relating to fluctuations in coal price; the risk that the Company's title to its properties could be challenged; risks related to the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; uncertainties related to the requirement for ministerial approval for a change of control of the Company; risks relating to consultation with the public and aboriginal groups; uncertainties related to the competitiveness of the mineral resource industry; risks associated with the Company being subject to government regulation, including changes in regulation; risks associated with the Company being subject to environmental laws and regulations, including a change in regulation; risks associated with the Company's need for governmental licenses, permits and approvals; uninsured risks and hazards; risks associated with fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; risks related to default by joint venture parties, contractors and agents; inherent risks associated with litigation; risks associated with potential conflicts of interest; risks related to effecting service of process on directors resident in foreign countries; uncertainties related to the Company's limited operating history; risks related to the Company's lack of a dividend history; risks relating to short term investments; and uncertainties related to fluctuations in the Company's share price. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

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) there being no significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; (3) permitting, development and expansion proceeding on a basis consistent with the Company's current expectations; (4) currency exchange rates being approximately consistent with current levels; (5) certain price assumptions for coal; (6) production forecasts meeting expectations; (7) the accuracy of the Company's current mineral resource and reserve estimates; (8) labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with the Company's current expectations; (9) that any additional required financing will be available on reasonable terms; and (10) assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation.

There can be no assurance that forward looking 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 statements.

The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, estimates or options, future events or results or otherwise, unless required to do so by law.

SOURCE Coalspur Mines Limited