HispanicBusiness

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 01/22/13 -- Amara Mining plc (AIM: AMA)(TSX: AMZ), the dual AIM and TSX-listed West African focused gold mining company, is pleased to announce the production results for its Kalsaka Gold Mine ("Kalsaka") in Burkina Faso.

HIGHLIGHTS

--  Robust operational results in 2012 - production of 53,544 ounces at    Kalsaka despite challenging conditions (total Group production for 2012:    54,925 ounces)--  Continued strong cash generation - cash and liquid assets of US$36.2    million at year end (31 December 2011: US$32.9 million)--  Trucking of material at neighbouring Sega Gold Project ("Sega") is    expected to commence in mid-2013--  2013 production guidance from Kalsaka/Sega of 50,000-60,000 ounces

Peter Spivey, Chief Executive Officer of Amara, commented:

"2012 was a defining year for Amara, with transformation across the Company. We are pleased to begin the New Year by announcing that our revised FY2012 production guidance has been met, despite challenging conditions in Burkina Faso, and we look ahead to uninterrupted production in 2013 as the Sega project comes online. With a resource update expected for Yaoure in Q1 and the feasibility study for Baomahun anticipated later in H1, we will move closer to our goal of becoming a mid-tier producer."

Kalsaka Production

----------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                  2012       2011     Change----------------------------------------------------------------------------Ore mined                               (t)  1,624,788  1,898,711      (14%)----------------------------------------------------------------------------Waste mined                             (t)  8,072,798 12,670,996      (36%)----------------------------------------------------------------------------Ore processed                           (t)  1,557,656  1,646,166       (5%)----------------------------------------------------------------------------Average ore head grade                (g/t)       1.23       1.45      (15%)----------------------------------------------------------------------------Gold production                        (oz)     53,544     71,505      (25%)----------------------------------------------------------------------------Average realised price sold        (US$/oz)      1,666      1,588         5%----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kalsaka generated strong cashflow in 2012 and coupled with the US$20 million unhedged debt facility from Samsung C&T Corporation, Amara ended the year with a record US$36.2 million in cash and liquid assets. This represents a 10% increase on 2011 (US$32.9 million) and a 59% increase on 2010 (US$22.7 million).

Although annual gold production was weaker than in 2011, reflecting Kalsaka's approach to the end of its minelife and an unusually heavy wet season in Burkina Faso, the average headgrade of the ore processed in 2013 is expected to strengthen as material from Sega becomes available and as the higher grade transitional ore is processed at Kalsaka. The trucking of material at Sega is expected to commence in mid-2013, before Kalsaka's remaining reserves are exhausted, ensuring production continues uninterrupted. The environmental permit for Sega is expected to be received from the Burkina Faso government in Q1 2013, although management recognises this is an aggressive timeline given the recent change of government following elections in Burkina Faso in December 2012. It is anticipated that the mining licence will be received shortly after the environmental permit.