Avanti Submits Kitsault Mine Project Environmental Assessment Application for Screening Review

VANCOUVER, Dec 22, 2011 - Avanti Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE: AVT) (PINKSHEETS: AVNMF) ("Avanti" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has submitted its Environmental Assessment ("EA") Application for the Kitsault Mine Project in northern BC for the required 30-day review. This over 7,000+ page document will be reviewed for its compliance with our Application Information Requirements ("AIR") by the British Columbia Environmental Assesment Office, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and members of the Kitsault EA Working Group. The 30-day Screening Review period ends January 22, 2012, however Avanti has requested and BC EAO is considering a 15 day extension to this period because of the holiday season.

"Submittal of the Kitsault Mine Project EA for initial screening review is a significant milestone within the Environmental Assessment process," Mr. Craig J. Nelsen, President and CEO stated. "Avanti and its consultants have been collecting and analyzing new environmental and economic baseline information, as well as over twenty years of previous operators environmental and reclamation information to inform this application. After this initial screening review is completed and if the Application is accepted, the formal 180-day review will commence."

The purpose of the screening process is for EAO and CEA Agency to determine whether the Application contains sufficient information, as required by the Kitsault Mine AIR, for the working group, EAO and CEA Agency to undertake a comprehensive review of the Application. This screening stage evaluation process does not involve an in-depth analysis of potential effects, as would occur during the Application review period, nor does it constitute a superficial scan of the Application. Rather, the evaluation process involves conducting a detailed enough assessment of the Application to determine whether the Application meets the requirements of the AIR to the extent that potential effects of the proposed Project can be adequately assessed.

Avanti Mining Inc. is focused on the development of the past producing Kitsault Mine Project located north of Prince Rupert in British Columbia. In late 2010, Avanti completed the Kitsault Feasibility Study on the Kitsault Mine Project, dated December 15, 2010, prepared by AMEC Americas Limited that showed Proven and Probable Reserves of 232.5 million tonnes averaging 0.081% molybdenum. Ken Collison, P. Eng., Senior Vice President Project Development and a Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101, is responsible for the technical information in this press release.



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Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain forward-looking information concerning the business of Avanti Mining Inc. (the "Corporation"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact in particular, statements herein about the screening review of its Environmental Assessment application for the Kitsault Project being approved for acceptance in the first quarter of 2012, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the opinions of management at the date the statements are made and are based on assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Corporation's expectations include the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the preparation of the EA application, the fact that the Corporation's employees and consultants may divide their time between other projects and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Corporation's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2010, which is available at www.sedar.com. The Corporation is under no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's opinions should change, excepting as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.



Contact Information

For further information, please visit www.avantimining.com, or contact:

Avanti Mining Inc.
Craig J. Nelsen, Chief Executive Officer
303-565-5491, extension 4471

A.J. Ali, Chief Financial Officer
303-565-5491, extension 4472