Rathdowney announces project team to advance Olza Zinc-Lead-Silver Project in Poland

VANCOUVER, Jan. 20, 2014 /CNW/ - Rathdowney Resources Ltd. ("Rathdowney" or the "Company") (TSXV: RTH) reports on plans for its flagship Olza Zinc-Lead-Silver Project in southwest Poland. Following a successful first phase focused on assessing the resource potential at Project Olza, the Company has assembled an experienced team of in-country experts and project management specialists to guide the project through permitting and toward development.

Robert Konski is President of Rathdowney Polska, Rathdowney's wholly-owned subsidiary, and will lead government relations and the project team. With over 25 years' experience as an executive and a strategic advisor to management of public and private companies and government in Poland, Mr. Konski has overseen energy and infrastructure projects as well as diverse financial services, including restructuring activities. In the five years prior to joining Rathdowney, he was Management Board Advisor to several key firms including Polska Grupa Energetyczna, Poland's largest public utility, and Kulczyk Holding, one of the largest privately held holdings in Central Europe with assets in economic sectors such as energy, brewing, automotive, oil and gas exploration, transport and logistics and real estate. From 2002 to 2008, he was the Country Manager and then the Regional Director of Euronet Worldwide, Inc. provider of secure electronic financial transaction solutions to banks, where he was able to make Poland the single largest market and revenue operator for the company.  Earlier in his career, he was the US Treasury Advisor to Minister of Finance, where he advised on financial sector restructuring and London Club negotiations and relations with international financial institutions. Mr. Konski holds a B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University, and an M.P.A. from the JFK School of Government at Harvard University.

Barbara Chammas is Manager, Community Relations and Environment and a member of the Board of Rathdowney Polska.  A professional with over 10 years' experience in public consultation and water management, Ms. Chammas directs on-the-ground stakeholder and environmental programs for Project Olza. Prior to joining Rathdowney in 2011, she was Manager of Public Communication for the Regional Water Management Authority in Krakow, coordinating public participation in the process of developing river basin management plans.  During this time she was national Leader of the Working Group for Public Consultation and regional Leader of the Public Participation Group. For two years, she was the Water Management Specialist in the Department of European Integration and Water Framework Directive, responsible for adaptation of legal and institutional aspects of water management plans.  Ms. Chammas has a Master Degree in Environmental Engineering and a Certificate in Mid-Management and Business Administration.

The Poland-based team is supported by advisors from Hunter Dickinson Inc. ("HDI") and Rathdowney who have extensive experience in advancing technical programs and permitting of projects for Canadian and European companies.

Lena Brommeland is General Manager, Poland.  Ms. Brommeland has a degree in geology and more than 20 years' experience in all aspects of large-scale mineral project management, leading key projects such as Pebble and Niblack in Alaska and Prosperity in BC for HDI-associated companies. She manages on-site technical programs, co-ordinates environmental planning and permitting, and develops community relations activities for exploration and feasibility-level projects in the HDI group, and has overseen activities in Poland for the past three years.

Doug Nicholson is Senior Project Development Manager, Poland.  Mr. Nicholson has a degree in mining engineering and more than 25 years of experience in mining project management, development and operations. He has directed and supported engineering, permitting and construction on a number of major mining projects, most recently as President and General Manager of the feasibility-stage Donlin Gold Project, a NovaGold/Barrick joint venture, providing leadership to the Project Senior Management Team encompassing engineering, environment, permitting, geology, camp operations and administration.  Mr. Nicholson has also extensive experience in stakeholder relations with communities and government.

David Furlong is Co-General Manager, Poland.  Mr. Furlong is a certified geologist with a degree in Exploration and Mining Geology, and over 15 years international experience, principally in gold, base metal and diamond exploration and production. His background includes the design and implementation of programs to advance projects from exploration to development scenarios.  He also has significant operational experience having spent a number of years as mine geologist.  He has overseen exploration activities, permitting initiatives, and co-managed development data gathering for Rathdowney and its predecessor private company in Ireland and Poland since 2007.

"In the wake of successfully completing the first phase of work at Project Olza last year, the Company initiated activities to advance project evaluation and permitting as outlined for projects in Poland.  The management team has been assembled to lead government and community engagement efforts as well as technical studies during this phase," said President and CEO David Copeland. "As President of our subsidiary in Poland, Robert Konski leads the team and reports directly to me. Robert's background in government and the private sector with a demonstrated ability to successfully do business in Poland will be invaluable to the project.  He will have excellent support from this experienced team." 

About Rathdowney

Rathdowney Resources Ltd. is an exploration and development company focused advancing the Olza Zinc-Lead-Silver Project in Poland. Rathdowney is associated with Hunter Dickinson Inc. ("HDI"), a diversified, global mine development company with a 25-year history of mineral development success. From its head office in Vancouver, Canada, HDI applies its unique strengths and capabilities to acquire, develop, operate and monetize mineral properties that provide consistently superior returns to shareholders.

On behalf of the board of directors
David J. Copeland
President and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: Rathdowney Resources Ltd.

For further details on Rathdowney and its projects, visit www.rathdowneyresources.com or contact Investor Services at [phone] or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.