Premier announces continued growth in corporate group with the addition of Paul-Henri Girard as Senior Mining Advisor

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THUNDER BAY, ON, Dec. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - PREMIER GOLD MINES LIMITED (TSX: PG) is pleased to announce that Paul-Henri Girard has been retained as Senior Mining Advisor to work with the Corporation in advancing its portfolio of projects.   Paul-Henri brings to Premier over 30 years experience in mine development and production.

Mr. Girard was most recently Vice President Canada for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and is a Mining Engineer from Laval University. While at Agnico, Paul-Henri was instrumental in developing its flagship LaRonde Mine as well as other company mining operations. He will provide technical assistance and advice to Premier as it continues to advance its projects, including guiding the process as Premier considers development options that could include a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Company's Trans-Canada Project.

Premier continues to strengthen its operating team as it implements the Company's strategy of becoming a gold producer.  Additional recent additions include Mr. Ebe Scherkus as Director and Chairman and Claude Lemasson as Director, both of whom bring substantial mineral exploration and mine development experience.

Mr. Sherkus said, "Paul-Henri has a proven ability to provide build early development concepts for deposits, and advance these projects to production.  This capability is expected to realize value in Premier's portfolio of advanced exploration properties and development projects."

Premier's exploration team has now completed building full 3D models for the multiple deposits that make up the Trans-Canada Project.  These models are in the final stages of block model completion such that the revised resource is expected to be released in the coming weeks.  Paul-Henri is currently completing preliminary mine modeling for these deposits, in particular for Brookbank and Hardrock, in advance of an anticipated PEA in 2013.  Earlier this year, Premier received Environmental Compliance Approval and a Permit to Take Water from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. This latest milestone is a significant step for the potential advancement of the Trans-Canada Project and provides Premier with the ability to de-water and commence Advanced Exploration at the historic MacLeod-Mosher Mine site, which is host to the Company's Hardrock deposit.

Expansion and delineation drilling is also being completed at the Cove Gold Project in Nevada and an initial resource is expected in late 2013.  Permitting is also underway to allow for further resource expansion which can potentially be moved quickly into Advanced Exploration including underground access.

Stephen McGibbon, P. Geo., is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

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's portfolio includes significant assets in world class gold mining districts such as Red Lake, Musselwhite and Geraldton in Ontario and the most prolific gold trends in Nevada.

The statements made in this Press Release may contain forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections.

SOURCE Premier Gold Mines Limited