Orbite Awards Alumina Calcination and Its Acid Recovery Basic Engineering Contract to Outotec

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Dec. 7, 2011) - Orbite Aluminae Inc. (TSX:ORT) ("Orbite") announces that it has awarded Outotec, a leading global provider of sustainable process solutions, technologies and services for the minerals and metals industries, a contract to perform the basic engineering of its metallurgical grade alumina calcination process and its associated hydrochloric acid recovery.

Basic engineering will ensure a high level of hydrochloric acid recovery to produce suitable high-quality alumina for aluminum smelters. Additionally, Outotec will provide key elements needed to incorporate the calcination process into the ongoing Feasibility Study (FS) previously announced. The basic engineering report is expected to be completed in the first half of 2012.

"Orbite's unique extraction process is truly revolutionary in that it has the potential to become an economically and ecologically viable substitute to the Bayer process, which has been the main industrial method of refining bauxite for the production of alumina for more than 100 years," said Michael Missalla, Outotec vice-president light metals / fluidized beds. "Outotec has the expertise, experience and cost-effective technologies to perform calcination and acid recovery of alumina from Orbite's process."

"Outotec's proven expertise on calcination processes with demonstrated efficient energy consumption and high heat recovery, combined with the hydrochloric acid recovery, constitutes an excellent asset for Orbite. Outotec is a world leader in calcination processes and has proven its capability to successfully process Orbite's raw material with their circulating fluid bed system," said Richard Boudreault, Orbite president and CEO.

Combined with SMS-Siemag's proven hydrothermal technology for both hematite production and low temperature hydrochloric acid recovery, the calcination of alumina will close the important and essential acid recovery portion of Orbite's process. An ongoing feasibility study will integrate all sub-systems together while further optimization of process parameters is underway in different locations in Europe.

"Outotec's expertise has proven successful worldwide and will allow Orbite to produce high-quality alumina. Outotec's experience will facilitate the integration of circulating fluid bed operational units within Orbite's process on a commercial scale", said Richard Boudreault.

About Outotec

Outotec develops and provides technology solutions for the sustainable use of Earth's natural resources. As the global leader in minerals and metals processing technology, Outotec has developed over decades several breakthrough technologies. The company also offers innovative solutions for the chemical industry, industrial water treatment and the utilization of alternative energy sources. With a global network of sales and service centres, research facilities and more than 3,400 experts, Outotec generated annual sales of EUR 970 million in 2010. Outotec shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. www.outotec.com

About Orbite

Orbite owns 100% of the mining rights on 6,441 hectares of a Grande-Vallée property, the site of an aluminous clay deposit located 23 km to the south of Grande-Vallée, and a 2 600 sq. m. full scale pilot plant in Cap Chat, in the Gaspé region. The NI 43-101 report issued in August 2011 has identified an Indicated Resource of about 1 billion tonnes of aluminous clay in part of the deposit. The Company also owns the intellectual property rights to a unique Canada and U.S.-patented process for extracting alumina from aluminous ores and for which patents are also pending in other countries. www.orbitealuminae.com

Regulation 43-101 and forward-looking statements

The information and the analyses contained therein do not constitute any type of feasibility study or economic assessment within the meaning of Regulation 43-101 respecting standards of disclosure for mineral projects (Québec) ("Regulation 43-101"). No preliminary feasibility study, pre-feasibility study or feasibility study pursuant to the requirements of Regulation 43-101 has been completed to date.

Certain information and statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements. Words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and/or Orbite Aluminae management's good-faith beliefs with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Corporation's control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to those described in the section of the Annual Information Form entitled "Risk Factors", and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements.

Readers are invited to consult the Report on the Geological Study prepared in conformity with Regulation 43-101 and the Annual Information Form of the Corporation, both amended and restated and respectively filed on August 21 and 25, 2011 and are available at www.sedar.com or on the Corporation's website at www.orbitealuminae.com. The resulting technical report in no way alters technical and mineral disclosure or conclusions provided in the initial report.