Rare Element Appoints Dr. Henry Kasaini as Director of Science and Technology

LAKEWOOD, COLORADO -- (Marketwire) -- 11/13/12 -- Rare Element Resources Ltd. (TSX: RES)(NYSE Amex: REE)(NYSE MKT: REE) is pleased to announce that Dr. Henry Kasaini, Pr Eng., has been appointed as Director of Science and Technology effective November 12, 2012.

Dr. Kasaini possesses a broad set of engineering and scientific skills acquired over 23 years of research and industry experience in minerals processing and metals separation technologies. He specializes in the development and design of process flow sheets for complex mineral ores and assessments of capital costs and profitability of new process plants. Dr. Kasaini's experience includes processing and separation of rare earth products. Most recently, Dr. Kasaini was with AREVA Mines, a subsidiary of AREVA Nuclear and Energy Company, Bessines, France. Dr. Kasaini began his career in the mining industry with ZCCM Ltd. in Zambia in 1988 working in the solvent extraction/electrowinning plant of the Nchanga Mine. He holds both a Masters and Doctorate degrees in Chemical Systems Engineering obtained from Kyushu University, Japan.

Dr. Kasaini's background includes various teaching and research positions including Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Potchefstroom University, South Africa; Professor and Department Head at Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa; visiting Scholar at Northwestern University, United States; and visiting Professor at the University of Boras, Sweden. He is a widely-published author including over 120 citations in scientific journals and conference proceedings covering topics including flotation, minerals beneficiation, metal separation and purification, coal gasification in fluidized beds, and process simulations membrane technology. Dr. Kasaini is the inventor of five patents associated with the design of metallurgical processes and has served as a referee for international journals including Separation Science and Technology, Minerals & Metallurgical Processing and Hydrometallurgy.

Jaye Pickarts, Chief Operating Officer, stated, "We are very pleased to have Henry join the Company as a key technical addition to our team as we develop the Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project. His vast knowledge in the areas of separation technologies and solvent extraction will advance our plan to produce separated rare earth products."

For information please refer to the Company's website at www.rareelementresources.com.

Rare Element Resources Ltd. (TSX: RES)(NYSE Amex: REE)(NYSE MKT: REE) is a publicly traded mineral resource company focused on exploration and development of rare-earth elements (REEs). In addition to the REE exploration and evaluation efforts, the Company controls the Sundance gold project, which is located on the same property in Wyoming.

Contacts:

Rare Element Resources Ltd.

David Suleski

720-278-2468
www.rareelementresources.com