cVancouver, BC - Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO; NYSE Amex: TGB) (“Taseko” or the “Company”) received the environmental assessment certificate for its proposed Prosperity Gold-Copper Project from the BC Provincial Ministry of Environment on January 14, 2010.

“Obviously we are tremendously pleased with the Provincial Government’s decision. We put considerable effort and Company resources into the documentation and process and to have now received this approval is both gratifying and rewarding,” says Taseko President & CEO Russell Hallbauer.

“The decision will undoubtedly be well received by the people of Williams Lake and the Cariboo, so many of whom worked tirelessly to make their views and support for Prosperity known and understood. The project was subjected to a complete and thorough examination by government departments, agencies, regulators and by the public. The Provincial process is demanding but it is also fair and we acknowledge the hard work of the Provincial Government in drawing the matter to a conclusion that will provide tremendous benefits to the social and economic future of British Columbia.”

“The Government of British Columbia has authority and responsibility for mine development in the Province. Now that they have given their approval we will proceed to apply for and secure the necessary leases, licenses and permits required to advance the project,” concluded Mr. Hallbauer.

Taseko will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss the Prosperity Project on Tuesday, January 19, 2010. Details will follow later today.

The Information Bulletin published today by the BC Ministry of Environment provides additional details about the process conducted by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Resources and the Ministry of Environment. The Information Bulletin can be found at http://www.gov.bc.ca/env/index.html

For further information on Taseko, please see the Company’s website www.tasekomines.com or contact: Brian Bergot, Investor Relations - 778-373-4545, Toll Free 1-800-667-2114.

Russell Hallbauer
President & 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 or ongoing 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.gov and home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

Back to the News Releases page