Crystallex confident the benefits of the Las Cristinas Project will be recognized

Crystallex President and CEO, Gordon Thompson commented, 'On April 30, 2008 we were advised that the Las Cristinas concession holder, Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana ('CVG') had received a letter from a Director General at the Ministry of Environment denying its request for the Environmental Permit allowing the construction of the Las Cristinas Project. On May 12, 2008, Crystallex filed the legal rebuttal to the position taken by the Director General in his letter.'
Mr. Thompson noted, 'The Communication from this Director General of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources is in conflict with the Las Cristinas Environmental Impact Study approval. Since the contents of the Director General s letter became public, local and indigenous communities, and Venezuelan Officials have voiced continued support for the development of the Las Cristinas project and other mining projects in the region. We are continuing efforts with the support of Venezuelan governmental agencies to advance the Project. Las Cristinas has been designed to the highest environmental standards and we are confident the benefits of the Project to the Venezuelan people and especially the employment opportunities for Bolivar State and surrounding communities will be recognized.'