Crystallex: Venezuela likely to okay Las Cristinas gold mining project

Toronto-based mining company Crystallex International Corp said on Friday that the Venezuelan government has stated that the project changes proposed to Las Cristinas gold project were 'feasible.' The company told shareholders that it received an official letter from the Venezuelan Ministry of the Environment saying that the modifications it proposed are viable and 'conform to the environmental and social guidelines of the Venezuelan government.' But it remains unclear the real extent of the letter from the Ministry of the Environment, from whom Crystallex is awaiting a permit to develop Las Cristinas gold project, where experts have estimated reserves of the precious metal amounting to some 17 million ounces.