Petaquilla

Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. (TSX:PTQ)(OTCBB:PTQMF)(FRANKFURT:P7Z)(the “Company”) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Petaquilla Gold, S.A., a signatory of the International Cyanide Management Code (the “Code”), has been audited by a lead auditor and a technical expert as part of the final process to become certified by the International Cyanide Management Institute (“ICMI”).

Companies that are signatories to the Code must have their operations audited by an independent third party to demonstrate their compliance with the Code. In this regard, Petaquilla Gold, S.A., once certified by the ICMI, will join only 14 other gold mining companies worldwide possessing this certification.

Within the next two months the technical expert will conclude a final review of the Company’s Molejon Gold Project to confirm compliance with minor recommendations prior to submitting the final report to ICMI for issuance of the official certification.

The ICMI was established to administer the Code, to promote the Code’s adoption and implementation, to evaluate its implementation, to manage the certification process and to make information on safe cyanide management practices widely available.

The Code is a voluntary industry program covering the manufacture, transport and use of cyanide in the gold mining industry. The Company supports the promotion of responsible management of cyanide used in gold mining for the purpose of enhancing the protection of human health and reducing the potential of environmental impacts.

About Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. Petaquilla is a growing, diversified gold producer committed to maximizing shareholder value through a strategy of efficient production, targeted exploration and select acquisitions. The Company operates a surface gold processing plant at its Molejon Gold Project, located in the south central area of its 100% owned 842 square kilometre concession lands in Panama – a region known historically for gold content. In addition, the Company has acquired 100% of the Lomero-Poyatos project located in the northeast part of the Spanish/Portuguese (Iberian) Pyrite Belt and several other exploration licenses in Iberia.

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Petaquilla Gold paid 193,707 dollars in royalties to the Municipal Council of the Donoso District.

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Created with the purpose to promote culture and sustainable development in the area around the mining project, Fundacion Petaquilla works incessantly to promote agricultural production and conserve our natural resources. Change is evident as we travel to nearby communities such as Coclesito, San Juan de Turbe, Nuevo San José, Nazareno and Villa del Carmen where families have been able to share with us how the projects from Fundacion Petaquilla have changed their lives.

One of the many ways neighboring families have directly benefited from Petaquilla´s efforts are through education programs that teach them how to improve their farming and cattle raising techniques. By providing them with the right tools, hundreds of hardworking Panamanians are able to start their own businesses and become suppliers to various companies around the region. Opportunities like these not only create economic stability for workers around the project but also cultivate values of hard work and responsibility.

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Mining generates numerous employment opportunities for inhabitants to communities neighboring a mine. Although mining projects are usually run by a complete team of engineers and geologists, a large portion of the employees working for a mining company come from diverse fields. For instance, mine workers usually reside in mining camps that require a team to build the rooms and support staff that takes care of the worker´s needs. Several examples of occupations necessary to run a mine camp are: security staff, cooks, laundry personnel and a medical team. Fortunately, mines such as Petaquilla offer jobs to thousands of people to help carry out these sorts of tasks and increase employment opportunities in the region.

Mining companies generate employment openings more often than you probably imagine. Their cars and helicopters require workers to operate these vehicles, offices need receptionists and secretaries to carry out administrative tasks and computers must be operated and kept running by IT personnel 24/7.

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