Message #25 From:
NewsBot Date: January 23, 2007 05:00:00 PM
AGT News Apollo Gold and Wahgoshig First Nation Announce Entry into a Memorandum of Understanding
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apollo Gold Corporation ("Apollo" or the "Company") (TSX: APG) (AMEX:
AGT) and the Wahgoshig First Nation (“Wahgoshig”)
announced today that they have entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding (the “MOU”)
with regard to the Company’s Black Fox project.
The Black Fox project, located near Matheson, Ontario, Canada, was
acquired by the Company in 2002 and lies within lands to which the
Wahgoshig asserts treaty and aboriginal rights. The Black Fox project is
currently in the permitting and feasibility stage, which we expect to be
completed in 2007.
The Company believes that the MOU establishes the foundation for a
positive and mutually beneficial relationship between the Wahgoshig and
Apollo by setting out interim provisions which will apply while the
Black Fox project is still in the advanced exploration stage. These
provisions include such measures as training, ongoing communication, a
good faith financial contribution and, subject to approval of the
Toronto Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange, an issuance of a
nominal amount of the Company’s common shares
to the Wahgoshig. Negotiations toward an Impact Benefit Agreement (“IBA”)
will commence if and when the Apollo Board of Directors decides to move
from exploration to production at the Black Fox project. The MOU
outlines the agenda and the process for conducting the IBA negotiations,
which will include, among other things, such topics as employment,
training, business opportunities and financial compensation.
“This is a significant agreement for our
First Nation,” said Chief David Babin. “It
provides some immediate benefits which we appreciate, but more
importantly from our perspective, it includes a commitment to negotiate
a comprehensive agreement should the project move to the operations
phase.”
The President and CEO of Apollo, R. David Russell, agreed: “We
see this MOU as the beginning of a positive and continuing relationship
with the Wahgoshig community. During the course of our negotiations, we
have become aware of the importance and the benefits of working
cooperatively with the Wahgoshig First Nation.”
Maurice J. Kistabish, who acted as head negotiator for Wahgoshig on the
MOU negotiations, confirmed the Wahgoshig First Nation’s
intent of negotiating similar agreements with other resource companies
operating in Wahgoshig traditional lands. Mr. Kistabish stated, “The
agreement with Apollo is an important first step for our community. We
consider it a precedent for our discussions with other companies in the
area, and we are hopeful that they will show the same respect and
cooperation in accommodating our interests as Apollo has demonstrated.”
Apollo Gold Corporation
Apollo is a gold mining and exploration Company with a mine in Montana,
the Black Fox advanced stage development project in Ontario, Canada, and
the Huizopa Project, an early stage exploration project in the Sierra
Madres in Chihuahua, Mexico.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes “Forward-Looking
Statements” within the meaning of section 21E
of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,”“should,”“expects,”“plans,”“anticipates,”“believes,”“estimates,”“predicts,”“intends,”“continue,” or the
negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. All statements
regarding the timing of the expected completion of the permitting and
feasibility stage of the Black Fox project and any negotiations towards
an Impact Benefit Agreement are forward-looking statements that involve
various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such
statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from these forward-looking statements include: inability to
negotiate an IBA, any difficulties arising in our future relationship
with the Wahgoshig, unexpected changes in business and economic
conditions, political or economic instability, significant decreases in
gold, silver, zinc or lead prices, changes in interest and currency
rates, local and community impacts and issues, labor accidents,
environmental risks, and other factors disclosed under the heading “Risk
Factors” and elsewhere in Apollo documents
filed from time to time with the Toronto Stock Exchange, The American
Stock Exchange, The United States Securities and Exchange Commission and
other regulatory authorities. All forward-looking statements included in
this press release are based on information available to Apollo on the
date hereof. Apollo assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements.