Taseko Announces Strong Production Results

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Jul 09, 2010, 01:25 ET

VANCOUVER, July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO; NYSE Amex: TGB) ("Taseko" or the "Company") reports unaudited second quarter production results for the Gibraltar Mine.

For the second quarter of 2010, Gibraltar produced 20.1 million pounds of copper and 218 thousand pounds of molybdenum.

A quarter over quarter production comparison is below:

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Q4 2009        Q1 2010      Q2 2010
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    Mill Throughput (millions, tons)     3.2            3.6         3.6
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Copper Recoveries (%)               84.1           89.8        88.7
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Copper Production (millions, lbs)   17.4           23.2        20.1
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Gibraltar concentrator continued to perform very well during the quarter with all circuits stabilized and operating at budgeted levels. Metal production for the period was slightly lower than the first quarter as a result of decreased copper head grade, a typical fluctuation as mining advances through the pit. The lower grade ore also had a minor effect on copper recoveries. Grade and recoveries are expected to trend higher for the third quarter.

Construction continues on the remaining modernization projects. During the second quarter the in-pit primary crusher and conveyor system was commissioned. This new system will reduce the mine's haul truck requirement by two trucks as a result of a decrease in ore haul distance of two kilometres (a 40% shorter haul). Additionally, the original primary crusher will act as a backup to the new system providing reliability for planned and unplanned shutdowns of the in-pit crusher.

The final concentrator upgrades are expected to be completed during the third quarter and construction of the new SAG mill feed system will commence shortly.

Russell Hallbauer, President and CEO of Taseko, commented, "Copper production for the first half of 2010 was 38% higher than the second half of 2009. This is a reflection of the operational improvements which have been made at Gibraltar. Anticipating a further increase to mill throughput in the coming months, we are in the process of purchasing additional haul trucks for the mine, complementing the arrival of a new 495HR Bucyrus shovel. These new trucks will replace older haul trucks, reducing operating and maintenance costs."

Note: Gibraltar is a Joint Venture owned by Taseko Mines Limited (75%) and Cariboo Copper Corp. (25%). All figures are reported on a 100% basis.

Russell Hallbauer

President and CEO

No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information contained in this news release.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This document contains "forward-looking statements" that were based on Taseko's expectations, estimates and projections as of the dates as of which those statements were made. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "anticipate", "project", "target", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "should" and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are 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 statements. These included but are not limited to:

    -  uncertainties and costs related to the Company's exploration and
       development activities, such as those associated with continuity of
       mineralization or determining whether mineral resources or reserves
       exist on a property;
    -  uncertainties related to the accuracy of our estimates of mineral
       reserves, mineral resources, production rates and timing of
       production, future production and future cash and total costs of
       production and milling;
    -  uncertainties related to feasibility studies that provide estimates of
       expected or anticipated costs, expenditures and economic returns from
       a mining project;
    -  uncertainties related to our ability to complete the mill upgrade on
       time estimated and at the scheduled cost;
    -  uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary licenses
       permits for development projects and project delays due to third party
       opposition;
    -  uncertainties related to unexpected judicial or regulatory
       proceedings;
    -  changes in, and the effects of, the laws, regulations and government
       policies affecting our exploration and development activities and
       mining operations, particularly laws, regulations and policies;
    -  changes in general economic conditions, the financial markets and in
       the demand and market price for copper, gold and other minerals and
       commodities, such as diesel fuel, steel, concrete, electricity and
       other forms of energy, mining equipment, and fluctuations in exchange
       rates, particularly with respect to the value of the U.S. dollar and
       Canadian dollar, and the continued availability of capital and
       financing;
    -  the effects of forward selling instruments to protect against
       fluctuations in copper prices and exchange rate movements and the
       risks of counterparty defaults, and mark to market risk;
    -  the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to
       cover mining risks;
    -  the risk of loss of key employees; the risk of changes in accounting
       policies and methods we use to report our financial condition,
       including uncertainties associated with critical accounting
       assumptions and estimates;
    -  environmental issues and liabilities associated with mining including
       processing and stock piling ore; and
    -  labour strikes, work stoppages, or other interruptions to, or
       difficulties in, the employment of labour in markets in which we
       operate mines, or environmental hazards, industrial accidents or other
       events or occurrences, including third party interference that
       interrupt the production of minerals in our mines.

For further information on Taseko, investors should review the Company's annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission www.sec.com and home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE Taseko Mines Limited