Orocobre Limited Announces Appointment of Non-Executive Director

QUEENSLAND, Australia, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- - The Directors of Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE) ("Orocobre" or the "Company"), are pleased to announce the appointment of Courtney Pratt as a non-executive director of the Company.  The appointment expands the members of the Company's Board of Directors to six, of which five are Non-Executive Directors.

Mr. Pratt, age 63, is one of Canada's most esteemed business leaders, and has enjoyed a 40-year career at the helm of some of the Canada's top industrial concerns, particularly in the energy, minerals, and mining sectors.

From 2004 to 2006, he was President and CEO of Stelco, a major Canadian steel producer, guiding it through a court supervised restructuring, and then served as Stelco's Chairman until the company's sale to US Steel in 2007.  Earlier, Mr. Pratt served as the president and CEO of Toronto Hydro, North America's largest municipally owned electricity distributor.  He also served as President and subsequently as Chairman of Noranda Inc, a global diversified natural resource company headquartered in Toronto.  In this capacity he served as a Director of Noranda Minerals, Falconbridge, Battle Mountain Gold, Noranda Forest (Chairman), Norcen Energy and Canadian Hunter.  

Mr. Pratt currently serves as Chairman of Knightsbridge Human Capital and the Toronto Region Research Alliance and is a Director of Moosehead Breweries, the 407ETR toll road, and the Ontario Advisory Council of Telus, the large Canadian telecommunications company.

Mr. Pratt's significant ongoing community activities include his responsibilities as director of the Canadian Policy Research Networks, the Canadian Council on Learning, The Learning Partnership and the Toronto City Summit Alliance.   Mr. Pratt has also acted as Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Campaign of The United Way of Greater Toronto, Director of Career Edge, and Director of the Toronto Board of Trade.  He was also Chairman of the Board of the United Way of Calgary.  In other community leadership roles, he was Chairman of Image, a past Director of the University Health Network and is the Founding Chair of the Charter for Business of the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards in Canada.

Mr. Pratt was awarded the Order of Canada in January 1999.    

Commenting on the new appointment, Orocobre chairman, James D. Calaway said, "We are honored that Courtney Pratt has agreed to join the Board of Orocobre.  He brings with him an impeccable reputation as leader in both global business and civic duty, and significant experience in the metals and mining industry.  Orocobre will no doubt benefit greatly from his counsel going forward as we work to develop the opportunities ahead of us."  

Paul Crawford

Company Secretary

About Orocobre Limited

Orocobre Limited is an Australian (ASX) Listed Company and is the leading lithium-potash resource developer in the lithium and potash rich Puna Lithium Province of Argentina.

For further information, please visit www.orocobre.com.au.

SOURCE Orocobre Limited