Lundin Mining Q4 and Full Year 2012 Production Results

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 22, 2013) - Lundin Mining Corporation (TSX:LUN)(OMX:LUMI) ("Lundin Mining" or the "Company") reports the following production results for the fourth quarter and full year 2012:

Metal Production (contained tonnes)		FY 2012	Q4 2012
	Copper, wholly-owned operations	63,878	14,224
	Tenke attributable (24%)	38,172	10,669
Total Copper		102,050	24,893
Zinc		122,204	29,161
Lead		38,464	8,353
Nickel		2,398	1,705

Paul Conibear, President and CEO commented, "We are pleased to achieve the high-end of our production guidance targets for 2012 at each of our operations. Zinkgruvan had a particularly successful year with new records set for production of zinc, lead and copper. Tenke also set new copper production records as Phase II expanded facilities came on line. All of our assets are very well positioned to deliver a solid performance again this year."

Segmented production and guidance is as follows:

(contained tonnes)		2012 Production Results	2012 Production Guidance	2013 Guidance
				Production	C1 Costb,c
Copper	Neves- Corvo	58,559	55,000 - 60,000	50,000 - 55,000	$1.80/lb
	Zinkgruvan	3,059	3,000 - 4,000	2,500 - 3,500
	Aguablanca	2,260	1,500 - 2,000	4,500 - 5,000
	Wholly-owned	63,878	59,500 - 66,000	57,000 - 63,500
	Tenke (@24%)	38,172	36,200	44,650a	$1.03/lb
	Total attributable	102,050	95,700 - 102,200	101,650 - 108,150
Zinc	Neves-Corvo	30,006	25,000 - 30,000	45,000 - 50,000
	Zinkgruvan	83,209	77,000 - 83,000	73,000 - 78,000	$0.20/lb
	Galmoy (in ore)	8,989	8,500 - 9,000	nil
	Total	122,204	110,500 - 122,000	118,000 - 128,000
Lead	Neves-Corvo	87	nil	nil
	Zinkgruvan	37,246	34,000 - 39,000	33,000 - 36,000
	Galmoy (in ore)	1,131	1,000 - 1,100	nil
	Total	38,464	35,000 - 40,100	33,000 - 36,000
Nickel	Aguablanca	2,398	1,500 - 2,000	5,000 - 5,500	$5.00/lb

a. Freeport has provided 2013 sales guidance which has been assumed to approximate Tenke's production.

b. Cash costs remain dependent upon exchange rates (EUR/USD: 1.30, USD/SEK: 6.75) and metal prices (Cu: $3.50, Zn: $0.95, Ni: $8.00, Co: $12.00).

c. Cash cost is a non-GAAP measure reflecting the sum of direct costs less by-product credits.

Operational Commentary

• Neves-Corvo: Total copper production exceeded the original guidance for the year, however overall grade of copper ore was lower than planned due to an exceptional quantity of lower grade but profitable "Out of Reserve" ore that was encountered and mined but was not part of the original mineral reserve estimate. Approximately 42% of the copper ore mined in 2012 was Out of Reserve. In the new copper mining zone of Lombador, 57% of the material mined was Out of Reserve. Overall for 2012, Out of Reserve material graded an average of 1.75% copper as compared to the Reserve material mined which graded 3.28% copper. Net benefits of mining and processing this Out of Reserve material include an extended mine life and overall long term higher aggregate revenues. Underground drilling will be increased significantly for 2013 to better define the extent of mineralization not currently in the reserve estimates and mine plans.
  
  Despite the lower than planned feed grades, Neves-Corvo copper plant performance was excellent with 88.2% recovery achieved. Ramp-up of the zinc plant continued in the quarter, with throughput approximately 75% higher than the prior quarter and record quarterly, and annual, zinc metal production was generated.

• Zinkgruvan: As expected, lower zinc and lead grades were realized in the fourth quarter, though the impact on metal production was partially mitigated by higher volumes processed than the prior two quarters and continued high recovery performance in the process plant. Zinc, copper and lead grades and plant recoveries met and in some cases were better than originally anticipated. Zinkgruvan finished the year with record production of zinc, lead and copper metal in concentrate.

• Aguablanca: Processing operations re-commenced in August, with full production achieved earlier than planned in the fourth quarter of 2012, resulting in higher than expected nickel and copper metal in concentrate production. Grades mined and plant recoveries achieved for both nickel and copper were slightly better than expected.

• Galmoy: Mining production from remnant ores exceeded expectations for the year. Mining ceased in the fourth quarter of 2012, though processing of stockpiled ore, by a third party processing facility, will continue into 2013. The mine closure plan has been approved by regulating authorities.

• Tenke: During 2012, Tenke achieved record mining and production rates facilitated by the staged commissioning of Phase II expansion facilities. The Phase II expansion is substantially complete, on schedule and on budget. By year end, the expanded facilities were operating near full Phase II design capacity and as reported by Freeport as Operator, overall fourth quarter production of 44,452 tonnes of copper cathode was 91% of the expanded annual design capacity of 195,000 tpa copper cathode. Freeport has provided 2013 metal sales guidance of 186,000 tonnes of copper cathode and 13,600 tonnes of cobalt (contained in cobalt hydroxide product).

Details of operating statistics by mine, by quarter and for the year follow in the attached table:

2012 Operating Statistics
		Total	Q4	Q3	Q2	Q1
Neves-Corvo
Ore mined, copper (000 tonnes)		2,507	648	577	638	644
Ore mined, zinc (000 tonnes)		530	178	107	132	113
Ore milled, copper (000 tonnes)		2,512	648	597	634	633
Ore milled, zinc (000 tonnes)		543	181	104	135	123
Grade per tonne
	Copper (%)	2.6	2.2	2.7	2.8	2.9
	Zinc (%)	7.3	7.1	7.2	7.2	7.6
Recovery
	Copper (%)	88.2	85.6	86.0	90.0	91.1
	Zinc (%)	71.0	70.5	71.2	72.8	69.6
Concentrate grade
	Copper (%)	23.9	23.6	24.2	23.9	24.0
	Zinc (%)	47.3	47.0	46.6	48.1	47.3
Production (contained metal)
	Copper (tonnes)	58,559	11,988	14,012	15,950	16,609
	Zinc (tonnes)	30,006	9,533	5,834	7,619	7,020
	Lead (tonnes)	87	39	48	-	-

Zinkgruvan
Ore mined, zinc (000 tonnes)		954	251	189	251	263
Ore mined, copper (000 tonnes)		157	40	46	44	27
Ore milled, zinc (000 tonnes)		998	254	216	241	287
Ore milled, copper (000 tonnes)		145	29	48	49	19
Grade per tonne
	Zinc (%)	9.1	8.2	10.1	10.7	7.7
	Lead (%)	4.4	3.8	4.7	4.8	4.3
	Copper (%)	2.3	2.5	2.0	2.2	3.0
Recovery
	Zinc (%)	91.7	89.2	91.9	93.5	91.8
	Lead (%)	85.4	84.8	88.0	85.3	83.8
	Copper (%)	91.8	92.6	90.6	91.6	93.4
Concentrate grade
	Zinc (%)	54.1	54.5	54.6	54.5	53.0
	Lead (%)	74.7	73.4	74.0	76.2	74.9
	Copper (%)	25.1	24.7	24.3	25.9	25.7
Production (contained metal)
	Zinc (tonnes)	83,209	18,703	20,053	24,022	20,431
	Lead (tonnes)	37,246	8,198	8,953	9,747	10,348
	Copper (tonnes)	3,059	673	864	986	536

Galmoy
Ore mined (000 tonnes)		142	15	43	5	79
Ore milled (000 tonnes)		188	19	61	69	39
Production (contained metal)
	Zinc (tonnes)	8,989	925	2,565	331	5,168
	Lead (tonnes)	1,131	116	364	33	618

Operating Statistics
		Total	Q4	Q3	Q2	Q1
Aguablanca
Ore mined (000 tonnes)		755	368	198	148	41
Ore milled (000 tonnes)		577	368	209	-	-
Grade per tonne
	Nickel (%)	0.5	0.5	0.4	-	-
	Copper (%)	0.4	0.5	0.4	-	-
Recovery
	Nickel (%)	81.3	82.8	78.1	-	-
	Copper (%)	91.4	92.9	87.7	-	-
Concentrate grade
	Nickel (%)	6.8	6.8	6.7	-	-
	Copper (%)	6.4	6.3	6.8	-	-
Production (contained metal)
	Nickel (tonnes)	2,398	1,705	693	-	-
	Copper (tonnes)	2,260	1,563	697	-	-

About Lundin Mining

Lundin Mining Corporation is a diversified base metals mining company with operations in Portugal, Sweden, Spain and Ireland, producing copper, zinc, lead and nickel. In addition, Lundin Mining holds a 24% equity stake in the world-class Tenke Fungurume copper/cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On Behalf of the Board,

Paul Conibear, President and CEO

Forward Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Ontario Securities Act. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to foreign currency fluctuations; risks inherent in mining including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological formations, ground control problems and flooding; risks associated with the estimation of mineral resources and reserves and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; the potential for and effects of labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or shortages of labour or interruptions in production; actual ore mined varying from estimates of grade, tonnage, dilution and metallurgical and other characteristics; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations; uncertain political and economic environments; changes in laws or policies, foreign taxation, delays or the inability to obtain necessary governmental permits; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described under Risk Factors Relating to the Company's Business in the Company's Annual Information Form and in each management discussion and analysis. Forward-looking information is in addition based on various assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, the assumed long term price of copper, nickel, lead and zinc; that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour and that the political environment where the Company operates will continue to support the development and operation of mining projects. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.