Richard Leclerc Joins Peregrine Metals as President
11.04.2011 | Marketwire
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire - April 11, 2011) - Peregrine Metals Ltd. ("Peregrine Metals" or "the Company") (TSX: PGM) is pleased to announce that Mr. Richard Leclerc has joined the Company as President. A registered professional mining engineer, Mr. Leclerc graduated from Laval University in Quebec in 1981. During his 29 years of mining experience, Mr. Leclerc has held senior operating and development positions with Andean Resources Ltd. ("Andean") in Argentina, Aur Resources Inc. ("Aur") in Chile, Centenario Copper Corporation ("Centenario") in Chile, Falconbridge Ltd. ("Falconbridge") in Argentina, Chile and Peru, Compania Minera Antamina S.A. in Peru, and with Cambior Inc. in Chile, Peru, Argentina and Guyana. Mr. Leclerc lives in Santiago, Chile and is fluent in Spanish, English and French.Most recently, Mr. Leclerc was Vice President, Operations for Andean, where he prepared the feasibility study of the Cerro Negro gold project in Argentina which set the stage for Andean to be acquired by GoldCorp Inc. in December, 2010 for approximately $3.6 billion. Prior to that, as Chief Operating Officer of Centenario, he was primarily responsible for the construction and operation of the Franke Copper Project in Chile which produces approximately 30,000 tonnes of copper per year. Centenario was acquired by Quadra Mining Ltd. in February, 2009. As Vice President, Mining Operations for Aur, Mr. Leclerc was responsible for the engineering, construction and operation of the Andacollo Copper Mine and operations of the Quebrada Blanca Copper Mine. Both these Chilean copper mines produce approximately 80,000 tonnes of copper per year. When he was with Falconbridge, Mr. Leclerc was responsible for the pre-feasibilty study of the El Pachon copper project ("El Pachon") which is located just 23 kilometres south of Peregrine Metals' Altar porphyry copper-gold project ("Altar") in San Juan Province, Argentina. El Pachon, now owned by Xstrata plc, is currently undergoing a final feasibility study on a large-scale copper mining operation. Mr. Leclerc's experience in San Juan Province, Argentina, will be particularly helpful as the Company moves Altar forwards.
Mr. Eric Friedland, Chairman of Peregrine Metals, said, "Mr. Leclerc has a strong reputation for successfully advancing, constructing and operating large copper and gold mines in South America, and his addition to the team is a testament to the quality of our Altar project. As a seasoned veteran in the mining industry, he had a direct impact on maximizing shareholder value during the corporate takeovers of Andean, Centenario and Aur. Mr. Leclerc joins Peregrine Metals as President at a pivotal time in our development as we deliver the preliminary economic assessment on Altar later this year."
Mr. Friedland has stepped down as President of Peregrine Metals, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, and will continue in his position as Chairman. Mr. Rod Davey has stepped down as Chief Operating Officer of Peregrine Metals and will continue to provide his extensive experience in copper mining in his new appointment as an Executive Vice President of the Company.
Contact Information
Peregrine Metals Ltd.
Mr. Eric Friedland, Chairman
(604) 669-8800
Peregrine Metals Ltd.
Mr. Mike Westerlund, Vice President Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
(604) 669-8800
(604) 408-8881
info@pmet.com
www.pmet.com