Forte Energy nears completion of additional drilling at Bir En Nar uranium project, tests in Guinea encouraging

Forte Energy (AIM&ASX: FTE) today reported on its activities during the quarter to end-December 2009, which were focused on exploration at its permits at Bir En Nar and near Bir Moghrein in the Zednes region of northern Mauritania.

The company is currently gearing up for a 6,000 metre RC (reverse circulation) drilling programme at Bir Moghrein comprising 300 holes that is due to commence in February to test ten of the most prospective anomalies. The Leg Beija radiometric anomaly has now been defined over an area 10km long and up to 500 metres wide. Sampling pits encountered hard calcrete with secondary uranium minerals down to more than 3 metres depth.

The planned initial program of around 4,600m of priority holes at Bir En Nar prospect was completed in early January 2010 and was later followed with additional seven holes to complete a more extensive sampling grid to enable a resource classification to a depth of 100 metres. Drilling of these holes is currently nearing completion.

The company has commissioned new airborne radiometric surveys over its Mauritanian licenses that are set to be completed in February to make sure no uranium prospects are missed after two of the prospects did not show up on the previous survey.

Assay results that have so far been received from trenching and grab samples from field exploration of calcite-hosted uranium anomalies near Bir Moghrein include 9,300 ppm (parts per million) U2O8 (uranium) from a trench at anomaly 068.

A maiden JORC resource for Bin En Nar is expected to be completed in Q1 2010, pending receipt of final assay results. Results from the 4,000 metre resource drill testing completed during 2007 at Bir En Nar included intercepts in excess of 5,000 ppm (parts per million) U3O8 (triuranium octoxide) with a maximum intersection of 1.55 m (metres) at 18,280 ppm U3O8.

Forte Energy currently holds a total of nine uranium exploration licences within the Pre-Cambrian Reguibat Shield in Northern Mauritania covering a total of 11,895 sq km (square kilometres). The ground selected was highlighted by available airborne radiometric survey data and extends southeast for over 340 km from the town of Bir Moghrein.

The company also reported progress from its uranium exploration campaign in Guinea, where metallurgical tests carried out at its Firawa project indicated potential of economic recovery from leaching with further pre-feasibility studies currently underway.

Last month, Forte agreed to sell its 50% interest in the Maroochydore copper project in Western Australia for A$2 million. The sale will allow the company to fully focus on the development of its uranium prospects in Guinea and Mauritania.

Net cash at the end of the quarter stood at A$6.1 million.