N@N

ANDINA Minerals Inc.: Andina Granted Environmental Impact Declaration for Volcan Gold Project

^{Published on 2009-01-19 14:33:46, Last Modified on 2009-01-19 14:35:31 - Market Wire}
 

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 19, 2009) - ANDINA Minerals Inc. (TSX VENTURE:ADM) ("Andina") is pleased to report that it has received approval for the Environmental Impact Declaration (the "Declaration") permit for its Volcan Gold Project, located in Chile's Maricunga Gold Belt, 120 kilometres east of Copiapo. The permitting process required the input and approval from numerous state agencies including the National Environmental Commission, the National Forestry Commission and the National Indigenous Development Corporation. The permit, granted by Chile's Regional Environmental Commission of Region III, Atacama and requiring the concurrence of seventeen administrative bodies of the State, certifies that the project environmental declaration complies with the environmental regulations and formalizes the conditions for further advanced stage exploration activities at Volcan.

"The approval of this Declaration is a significant step forward for Andina as we change our focus from exploration to advancing toward the development of the Volcan Project", said George Bee, President and CEO of Andina. "We will continue to move forward with the Volcan Gold Project in a fully compliant manner as set out in the Declaration, ensuring that we act responsibly and as a good neighbour to all stakeholders in the region."

Volcan Project Update

A limited drilling program has begun with a single diamond drill rig focused on infill drilling in key areas of the Dorado West deposit. It is anticipated that the 2008/2009 drill program will not exceed 6,000 metres with the majority of the drilling focused on the Dorado West deposit in support of gathering information for project development.

Rio Astaburuaga Water Concession

Andina has been granted exploration rights to the Rio Astaburuaga aquifer located fifteen kilometres southeast of the Volcan property. The concession is situated twenty kilometres south of Andina's existing water concession which has approved extraction rights of 340 litres per second, thought to be adequate for development of the Volcan property. To-date, Andina has completed twenty one kilometres of geophysical surveys identifying a favourable horizon of sands and gravels representing a high priority aquifer target. An eight hole exploration drilling program is ongoing and, if results warrant, a program of pump testing will commence immediately. Water resources are a strategic asset in Chile, especially on the Maricunga Belt.

NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 43-101 COMPLIANCE

Under the guidelines of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the qualified person for the Volcan Gold Project is Michael Easdon, a resident of Santiago, Chile. Mr. Easdon, a Professional Geologist registered with the State of Oregon, USA, is an independent qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

Information on the parameters and methodology for the Volcan Gold Project resource estimates can be found in following NI 43-101 compliant technical reports filed on the Canadian Securities Administrators' "System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval" at [ www.sedar.com ]: "Phase IV - Volcan Gold Project, Dorado West and Ojo de Agua Zones, Region III, Chile" (September 2, 2008) prepared by Michael Easdon; and, "Phase III - Volcan Gold Project, Dorado West, Central and East Zones, Region III, Chile" (November 28, 2007) prepared by Ralph Gonzalez a professional engineer registered with the Association of Professional Engineers of the Province of Manitoba since 1977 and a Professional Geologist registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists in the Province of British Columbia since 1992. Information on the Ojo de Agua area resource estimate can be found in the Andina press release issued on October 6, 2008.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements, including predictions, projections and forecasts. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, permitting time lines, government regulation of exploration and mining operations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage, timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation and timing and results of future resource estimates or future economic studies and in particular include statements with respect to the commencement of planned economic studies in the latter half of 2008. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "planning", "planned", "expects" or "looking forward", "does not expect", "continues", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "potential", "anticipate", "does not anticipate", or "belief", or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, the result of drilling and exploration activities, that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes, that equipment necessary for exploration is available as scheduled and does not incur unforeseen break downs, that no labour shortages or delays are incurred, that plant and equipment function as specified, that no unusual geological or technical problems occur, and that laboratory and other related services are available and perform as contracted.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the company's publicly filed documents. Although Andina 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. 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 TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.