Imperial Reports Huckleberry Mine Suspends Pit Operations

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jan 6, 2016) - Imperial Metals Corp. (the "Company") (TSX:III) reports that Huckleberry Mines Ltd. ("HML") has suspended pit operations at the Huckleberry mine, affecting approximately 100 of its 260 employees. HML will retain the balance of its work force to continue milling stockpiled ore.

While HML has made significant efforts to reduce operating costs at the Huckleberry mine, the realized savings have not been sufficient to offset declining copper prices. HML will continue to work with employees and other stakeholders to manage through this difficult period.

Huckleberry had an excellent operating record in 2015 with no loss time accidents. In December, Huckleberry received a reclamation award and a commendation for its work with the local First Nations from the Government of British Columbia.

About Imperial

Imperial is an exploration, mine development and operating company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns the Mount Polley copper/gold mine in British Columbia, the Sterling gold mine in Nevada and the Red Chris copper/gold mine in northern British Columbia. Imperial holds a 50% interest in Huckleberry Mines Ltd. and a 50% interest in the Ruddock Creek lead/zinc property, both in British Columbia.

Forward-Looking Information and Risks Notice

Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Company management's expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, specific statements regarding Huckleberry Mine's ongoing milling of stockpiled ore, and its intent to continue working with employees and other stakeholders to manage through this difficult period, and in general, statements with respect to the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the conversion of mineral resources to mineral reserves, the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, and success of mining operations. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "outlook", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. In this document certain forward-looking statements are identified by words including "guidance", "expectations", "targeted", "plan", "planned", "estimated", "calls for" and "expected". By their very nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks detailed from time to time in the Company's interim and annual financial statements and management's discussion and analysis of those statements, all of which are filed and available for review on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company 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.

Contact

Imperial Metals Corp.
Brian Kynoch
President
604.669.8959
Imperial Metals Corp.
Andre Deepwell
Chief Financial Officer
604.488.2666
Imperial Metals Corp.
Gordon Keevil
Vice President Corporate Development
604.488.2677
Imperial Metals Corp.
Sabine Goetz
Shareholder Communications
604.488.2657
investor@imperialmetals.com