Premier announces corporate group addition - Paul Blatter hired as Director of Metallurgy

Shares Issued: 149,072,712

THUNDER BAY, ON, March 18, 2013 /CNW/ - PREMIER GOLD MINES LIMITED (TSX:PG) is pleased to announce that Paul Blatter will be joining the company as Director of Metallurgy and will participate in the advancement of the Company's portfolio of advanced-stage projects.  Paul brings to Premier over 13 years of experience in mine development process and metallurgy.

Mr. Blatter holds a Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering and has recently held positions of increasing responsibility at Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and Matamec Explorations.  Previous milling and development projects that Paul participated in include; lead metallurgical and operational development of the Lapa mill plant design through to mill start-up and operation covering all aspects of milling, Metallurgy Superintendent for Agnico's Laronde Complex and various project development projects for Agnico-Eagle Mines including the Kittila project.  Paul will work on metallurgy and milling concepts for Premier's projects with the initial focus being the economic evaluation of the Trans-Canada Project, and metallurgy work for the Cove Project in Nevada.

Premier continues to strengthen its operating team as it implements the Company's strategy of becoming a gold producer.  In the past 12 months, Premier has made several key management additions including Paul-Henri Girard as Senior Mining Advisor and Eric Lamontagne as Director, Development Projects.

"The addition of Paul to Premier's team confirms our commitment to building an industry-best team with substantial mineral exploration and mine development experience as we implement our strategy to convert from explorer to developer" stated Ewan Downie, President and CEO of Premier.  "His previous experience in working with our current team will streamline our ability to execute on the advancement of Company projects."

For 2013, Premier will see more than $30 million spent on exploration and development on three projects, the most aggressive budget in corporate history. Continued drilling and conceptual mine modeling for the Brookbank and Hardrock deposits are being worked in advance of a planned PEA.  An aggressive expansion and delineation drill program is planned to be completed at the Cove Gold Project in Nevada with an initial mineral resource estimate expected in late 2013. In Red Lake, an accelerated underground drill program will be carried out from the tram development that is currently being excavated through the Rahill-Bonanza joint venture project.

Premier Gold Mines Limited is one of North America's leading exploration and development companies with a high-quality pipeline of gold projects focused in proven, safe and accessible mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States.  The Company is fully financed with approximately $140 million in cash and investments, no debt and a portfolio of advanced-stage assets in world class gold mining districts including Red Lake, Musselwhite and Geraldton in Ontario and the most prolific gold trends in Nevada.

This Press Release contains certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements about strategic plans, including future operations, future work programs, capital expenditures, discovery and production of minerals, price of gold and currency exchange rates, timing of geological reports and corporate and technical objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the risks inherent to the mining industry, adverse economic and market developments and the risks identified in Premier Gold's annual information form under the heading "Risk Factors". There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Premier Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Premier Gold Mines Limited