Ecometals Announces Progress on Permits and Planning for Drilling Rio Zarza Gold Project Ecuador

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 12, 2009) - Ecometals Limited (TSX VENTURE:EC)GDQGDQ - Ecometals Limited is pleased to announce positive progress in obtaining necessary permits for diamond drill testing on the Rio Zarza Gold Project of anomalous geophysical and geochemistry results and structural scenario analogous to Kinross' neighbouring Fruta del Norte Gold Deposit. Rio Zarza Gold Project The Rio Zarza Gold Project is located north of Zamora, the district capital of Zamora Chinchipe province, southeastern Ecuador. The project adjoins the Kinross (formerly Aurelian) exploration license which covers the Fruta del Norte epithermal deposit with a reported 13.7Moz Au (Micon, 2007). Permits The stages and permits necessary prior to continued exploration and drilling according to the new Mines Act and Government directives are as follows: /T/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Permit Authority Status ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Terms of Reference Ministerio de Ambiente Approved (before for EIA Moratorium) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Suspension of Ministerio de Minas approved Exploration y Petroleo Activities Lifted ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Water Management Secretaria Nacional approved Study (Plan del Agua de Agua) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Water Use Permit Secretaria Nacional approved del Agua ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Environmental Impact Ministeria del Ambiente approved Assessment Study (EIA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Environmental Ministeria del Ambiente submitted for approval Management Plan (Plan de Manejo) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Environmental License Direccion Nacional submitted for approval de Minas (DINAMI) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Environmental Bond Ministeria del Ambiente pending issue of Renewal Environmental License ------------------------------------------------------------------------- /T/ The final remaining Environmental Management Plan and Environmental License approvals are expected to be received this month. The renewal of the environmental bond is a routine process and immediately follows the Environmental License issuance. Preparation for Drilling In anticipation of the imminent approval of these permits, Ecometals is taking the following actions preparing for the start of 1200m of diamond drill testing of combined geological, structural, geochemical and geophysical anomalies: - Requests for proposals from and negotiations with international and local Ecuador-based drilling contractors - Camp refurbishment, including expansion for labour accommodation, core storage and logging shed - Direct impact local community meetings to inform about drilling programme and environmental protection measures - Local hiring in direct impact communities of labour and technical personnel - Refinement of drilling targets, combining geophysics, soil and rock geochemistry, mapped geology and structure - Established sampling, QA/QC and analytical protocols (fire assay Au, multi-element ICP) Drilling will utilize a man-portable rig to minimize the environmental impact of access road construction. Drill holes will be inclined to determine the orientation of structures and mineralized veins. Holes will start using HQ (nominal 63.5mm) and reduce to NQ (47.6mm) with depth. Core will be transported from the drill site to the Rio Zarza camp, where logging and sampling will be conducted. Samples will be despatched using full chain of custody documentation to the ALS Chemex sample preparation laboratory in Quito and analysed at the Als Chemex laboratory in Lima, Peru. ALS Chemex is an ISO certified laboratory. QC will include standard insertion of control samples (blanks, Certified Reference Material, and duplicates) at 10% frequency, and the in-house Qualified Person will supervise drilling and sampling. To view the Geology map of the Rio Zarza project area, please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ECCC0812.pdf Further details and maps of the planned drilling program can be obtained from the Ecometals Web site (www.ecometalslimited.com). Chief Executive Officer Fran Scola said, "The regularization of the mining industry and increased environmental protection measures in Ecuador have created a more equitable and competitive industry more in line with Canadian norms. This will add considerably to sustainable economic diversification and development, and Ecometals is pleased to be a contributor to this." Qualified Person SR McMullan, P.Geo, Vice President of Exploration for Ecometals Limited, is a qualified person according to National Instrument 43-101 definition and has supervised the preparation of the technical information included in this press release. About Ecometals Ecometals Limited is a Canadian-listed mineral exploration and development company focused on mineral resources in Latin America. Ecometals also has significant manganese and iron projects in Brazil at grass roots and development planning stages. Safe Harbor Statement: Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements which involve risk and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These include risks relating to changes in economic or environmental conditions and the company's ability to execute its business model and strategic plans. The company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements.