Premier announces addition to Development Team - Richard Harrisson hired as Director of Mining

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THUNDER BAY, ON, May 1, 2013 /CNW/ - PREMIER GOLD MINES LIMITED (TSX:PG) is pleased to announce that Richard Harrisson has been retained as Director of Mining and will aid the advancement of the Company's project pipeline.   Richard brings to Premier over 14 years of experience in mine development and production.

Mr. Harrison was most recently Engineering Superintendent for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and obtained his Bachelor of Mining and Mineral Engineering Degree from Laval University.  While at Agnico, Richard occupied various positions on several projects, most notably as Project Evaluation Engineer on the Company's Corporate Development Team, and most recently as Engineering Superintendent for the Goldex Mine. Prior to Agnico, Richard worked with Xtrata Zinc at their Brunswick Mine ending his career there as Senior Ground Control Engineer. In his new position, Richard will work on evaluating and advancing Premier Gold's projects with the initial focus being the economic evaluation of the Trans-Canada Project, culminating in a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).

"Premier continues to attract and build an industry best team to further its suite of high quality projects" stated Ewan Downie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Premier. "Richard's exceptional mining and development experience as well as his history of working with our current team further solidifies Premier's ability to advance its projects and transfer from an exploration to a development company".

2013 will see more than $30 million spent on exploration and development on three projects, the most aggressive budget in corporate history. Continued drilling and preliminary mine modeling concepts for the Brookbank and Hardrock deposits are being worked in advance of a planned PEA that is expected to be completed in Q3.  Expansion and delineation drilling is being 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 from the haulage drift development that has been excavated through the Rahill-Bonanza joint venture project is underway with initial results expected in the near future.

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 over $100 million in cash and investments 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