TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire - Feb. 25, 2010) - Lundin Mining Corporation (“Lundin” or the “Company”) (TSX:LUN)(OMX:LUMI) today reported net income, before discontinued operations and impairment charges, of $105.2 million ($0.19 per share) for the year and $72.2 million ($0.12 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2009, up from a loss of $131.9 million (loss of $0.32 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Mr. Phil Wright, President and CEO commented, “The large turnaround in profit in the fourth quarter reflects the effect of stronger metal prices and the continued good performance of our European operations.

“Tenke’s ramp up to commercial production has gone extremely well and the mine produced 70,000 tonnes of copper cathode during 2009.

“At year-end we had $141.6 million of cash on hand and net debt to equity stood at only 1.7%. This puts us in a strong position to pursue our growth ambitions for 2010,” Mr. Wright said.
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Three Months
                                      Twelve Months         Ended Dec 31
(US $ millions (except per share       Ended Dec 31       2009        2008
 amount)                              2009     2008 (unaudited) (unaudited)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                                746.0    835.3      256.7        43.5
Operating earnings (loss)            373.2    323.2      152.2       (65.8)
Net income (loss) from continuing
 operation before impairment         105.2     49.0       72.2      (131.9)
Net income (loss)                     73.7   (957.1)      35.1      (728.5)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic & diluted income (loss) per share:
 From continuing operations before
  impairment                          0.19     0.12       0.12       (0.32)
 From impairment and discontinued
  operations                         (0.06)   (2.53)     (0.06)      (1.45)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total:                                0.13    (2.41)      0.06       (1.77)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash provided by operations          137.4    215.0       97.0        46.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Highlights

- Sales revenue for the quarter was significantly higher than the prior year corresponding quarter owing to improved metal prices.

- Operating earnings(1) of $152.2 million for the quarter represents an increase of $218.0 million from a loss of $65.8 million in the fourth quarter 2008. Virtually all of the improvement in operating earnings was related to improved metal prices and the difference in price adjustments between quarters.

- Net income for the quarter included losses on derivative contracts of $27.4 million ($0.05 per share), of which $13.4 million was unrealized. Also included was $37.1 million ($0.06 per share) related to impairment on the Salave gold project in northern Spain (See news release dated February 11, 2010).

- Cash flow from operations for the quarter was $97.0 million, compared to $46.5 million for the corresponding quarter in 2008.

- Investment in in-mine and near-mine exploration has seen the growth of mineral reserves to replace record ore tonnages mined during the year at both Neves-Corvo and Zinkgruvan.

In addition, at Neves-Corvo there has been an increase of 11 million tonnes (+44%) in measured and indicated copper resources (approximately 160,000 tonnes of contained copper) and 20 million tonnes have been added in inferred copper resources (See news release dated February 22, 2010).

- Production of all metals exceeded market guidance for the full year. Total production was as follows:
 

-----------------------------------------------------------
          Guidance    Total      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1
tonnes        2009     2009    2009    2009    2009    2009
-----------------------------------------------------------
Copper      91,000   93,451  23,868  21,351  23,992  24,240
Zinc(i)    100,000  101,401  20,011  15,151  31,962  34,277
Lead(i)     40,000   43,852  10,393   8,111  12,478  12,870
Nickel       7,200    8,029   2,324   1,784   1,960   1,961
-----------------------------------------------------------
(i) 2009 includes payable metal in sales of ore (50% attributable
    to Galmoy)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Copper
 Tenke attributable  17,325   7,227   6,018   4,079       -
-----------------------------------------------------------


-------------------------------------------------------------
                        Total      Q4      Q3      Q2      Q1
tonnes                   2008    2008    2008    2008    2008
-------------------------------------------------------------
Copper                 97,944  25,093  24,433  23,478  24,940
Zinc                  151,157  32,406  37,067  41,622  40,062
Lead                   44,799   9,917   9,908  12,397  12,577
Nickel                  8,136   2,179   2,155   1,954   1,848
-------------------------------------------------------------
Copper
 Tenke attributable         -       -       -       -       -
-------------------------------------------------------------

Financial Position

- Net debt(2) at December 31, 2009 was $49.3 million compared to a net debt position of $145.5 million at the end of 2008. Cash flow from operations covered all sustaining capital expenditures and all new investment related to the European operations.

The decrease in net debt during the year was attributable to the April 2009 bought-deal public offering for total gross proceeds of $155.8 million, offset by Tenke funding obligations of $56.7 million.

- Cash on hand at December 31, 2009 was $141.6 million.

- Net debt to equity at December 31, 2009 is 1.7%.

- As at February 22, 2010, cash on hand is approximately $141.7 million and net debt is $9.2 million.

First Quarter 2010 Guidance

Specific issues that may affect earnings in the first quarter of 2010 when considered on a quarter-to-quarter basis are as follows:

- Production for the quarter is expected to be below trend owing to a number of factors including: abnormal weather conditions in Europe hampering ore processing; flooding of the Aguablanca pit, early January and again mid-February, restricting access to higher-grade ore zones; Zinkgruvan has been restricted by a blocked orepass.

Annual guidance is reaffirmed; however no allowance has been made for the industrial action at Neves-Corvo.

- Average prices in the quarter to date are lower than those used to provisionally value outstanding receivables at December 31, 2009. Depending on price changes and the timing of settlements, the first quarter may see the effect of negative price adjustments.

- Timing of sales during the fourth quarter of 2009 resulted in unusually low concentrate inventory levels at December 31, 2009. It is expected that sales in the first quarter of 2010 will reflect the return to normal inventory levels.

Outlook

- Production targets for 2010 are as follows:
 

---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                2010 Target
(contained tonnes)                          Tonnes    C1 Cost(1)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Neves-Corvo(2)                      Cu      82,000         1.20
                                    Zn       3,000
---------------------------------------------------------------
Zinkgruvan                          Zn      75,000         0.30
                                    Pb      36,000
                                    Cu       1,000
---------------------------------------------------------------
Aguablanca                          Ni       7,500         5.80
                                    Cu       7,000
---------------------------------------------------------------
Galmoy                              Zn      14,000         0.30
(in ore)                            Pb       4,000
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total: Wholly-owned operations(2)   Cu      90,000
                                    Zn      92,000
                                    Pb      40,000
                                    Ni       7,500
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tenke: 24.75% attributable share(3) Cu      28,500
---------------------------------------------------------------
1 Cash costs remain dependent upon exchange rates (2010 EUR /USD:
  1.42). Cash cost of nickel is highly leveraged to metal price
  owing to the price participation formula in smelter terms.
2 No allowance has been made for the limited industrial action
  currently underway. Production that may be lost is currently being
  assessed and will depend upon a number of factors, including the
  duration of the action.
3 At design capacity production of copper and cobalt and assuming
  average cobalt prices of $10 per pound, average unit net cash costs
  are targeted to be $0.50 per pound of copper. Each $2 per pound
  change in average prices of cobalt would impact net cash costs by
  approximately $0.12 lb/copper.

- Zinc production at Neves-Corvo is expected to resume in 2011 at the rate of 50,000 tpa. An earlier start, at a nominal rate of 25,000 tpa, is under evaluation.

- Studies continue separately on the feasibility of developing the Lombador zinc/copper deposit adjacent to the Neves-Corvo mine. Progress to date is positive and a feasibility study is targeted for completion in early 2011. A preliminary target of 2013 has been set for commencement of full-scale operations from Lombador.

- Capital expenditure for 2010 is expected to be between $190 and $250 million. This includes:

– Sustaining capital in European operations of $90 million (2009 - $80 million)

– New investment in European operations of $60 million (2009 - $35 million)

– Investment in Tenke of $100 million (2009 - $56.7 million). The Company estimates this could vary between $40 million and $100 million depending on development plans. Final decisions on capital investment levels are made by the operator.

- Expenditure on exploration and resource acquisition is expected to be similar to 2009 levels at $20 million of which approximately $10.0 million will be spent on exploration drilling to delineate further copper resources at Neves-Corvo.

The market outlook remains volatile and in our view 2010 remains a year of slow recovery prior to a resumption of growth in 2011.

Selected Quarterly and Annual Financial Information
 

                          -----------------------------------------------
                                                           Three months
                                    Year Ended          ended December 31
(USD millions,                     December 31             (unaudited)
 except per               -----------------------------------------------
 share amounts)                  2009        2008        2009        2008
                          -----------------------  ----------------------
Sales                           746.0       835.3       256.7        43.5
Operating
 earnings(1)                    373.2       323.2       152.2       (65.8)
Depletion, depreciation &
 amortization                  (170.0)     (202.3)      (41.4)      (40.1)
General exploration and
 project investigation          (22.6)      (38.9)       (6.7)      (12.3)
Other income and expenses         5.1       (24.6)        3.7       (18.4)
Loss on derivative contracts    (61.5)       (0.1)      (27.4)       (0.8)
Loss (income) from equity
 investment in Tenke              0.3        (2.2)        5.6        (2.2)
Gain (loss) on sale of
 investments                     (6.7)       (1.3)       12.0           -
                          -----------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from
 continuing operations
 before impairment charges
 and income taxes               117.8        53.8        98.0      (139.6)
Income tax (expense)
 recovery on above              (12.6)       (4.8)      (25.8)        7.7
                          -----------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from
 continuing operations
 before impairment charges      105.2        49.0        72.2      (131.9)
Impairment charges and
 income (loss) from
 discontinued operations        (31.5)   (1,006.1)      (37.1)     (596.6)
                          -----------------------------------------------
Net income (loss)                73.7      (957.1)       35.1      (728.5)
                          -----------------------------------------------
                          -----------------------------------------------
Shareholders' Equity          2,915.2     2,603.7
Cash flow from operations       137.4       215.0        97.0        46.5
Capital expenditures
 (incl. Tenke)                  185.0       538.5        39.0       105.7
Total assets                  3,740.1     3,704.5
Net debt(2)                      49.3       145.5
Key Financial Data:
Shareholders' equity per
 share(3)                        5.03        5.34
Basic and diluted income
 (loss) per share                0.13       (2.41)       0.06       (1.77)
Basic and diluted (loss)
 income per share from
 continuing operations
 excluding impairments           0.19        0.12        0.12       (0.32)
Dividends                           -           -           -           -
Equity ratio(4)                    78%         70%
Shares outstanding:
 Basic weighted
  average                 550,000,833 396,416,414  579,585,417 412,476,706
 Diluted weighted
  average                 550,045,231 396,416,414  579,969,414 412,476,706
 End of period            579,592,464 487,433,771  579,952,464 487,433,771



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
($ millions,
 except per
 share data)  Q4-09  Q3-09   Q2-09    Q1-09    Q4-08   Q3-08   Q2-08 Q1-08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales         256.7  171.1   194.8    123.4     43.5   191.9   294.1 305.7
Operating
 earnings     152.2   91.8    91.0     38.2    (65.8)   68.9   137.2 182.9
Impairment
 charges
 (after
 tax)(5)      (37.1)     -       -        -   (651.5) (201.1) (152.8)    -
Income
 (loss)
 from
 continuing
 operations    35.1    3.7    43.5    (14.1)  (707.7) (190.2)   96.9  81.3
Net income
 (loss)        35.1    3.7    43.5     (8.6)  (728.5) (199.0) (108.4) 78.8
Income
 (loss)
 per share
 from
 continuing
 operations,
 basic and
 diluted       0.06   0.01    0.08    (0.03)   (1.72)  (0.49)   0.25  0.21
Income
 (loss)
 per share(6),
 basic and
 diluted       0.06   0.01    0.08    (0.02)   (1.77)  (0.51)  (0.28) 0.20
Cash flow
 from
 operations    97.0   40.0    63.7    (63.3)    46.5    46.8   118.3   3.5
Capital
 expenditure
(incl.
 Tenke)        39.0   54.7    57.8     33.6    105.7   146.8   164.7 121.3
Net debt(2)    49.3  132.2   110.7    259.5    145.5   194.8    95.7 104.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------


1 Operating earnings is a Non-GAAP measure defined as sales, less operating
  costs, accretion of asset retirement obligation ("ARO") and other
  provisions, selling, general and administration costs and stock-based
  compensation. 
2 Net debt is a Non-GAAP measure defined as available unrestricted cash
  less financial debt, including capital leases and other debt-related
  obligations.  
3 Shareholders' equity per share is a Non-GAAP measure defined as
  shareholders' equity divided by total number of shares outstanding at end
  of period.  
4 Equity ratio is a Non-GAAP measure defined as shareholders' equity divided
  by total assets at the end of period.  
5 Includes impairment from discontinued operations.
6 Income (loss) per share is determined for each quarter. As a result of
  using different weighted average number of shares outstanding, the sum of
  the quarterly amounts may differ from the year-to-date amount.
  See MD&A for a discussion of Non-GAAP measures.

The complete 2009 annual financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis and notes to the financial statements are available on Sedar (www.sedar.com) or the Company’s website (www.lundinmining.com).

About Lundin Mining

Lundin Mining Corporation is a diversified Canadian base metals mining company with operations in Portugal, Sweden, Spain and Ireland, producing copper, zinc, lead and nickel. In addition, Lundin Mining holds a development project pipeline which includes expansion projects at its Zinkgruvan and Neves-Corvo mines along with its equity stake in the world class Tenke Fungurume copper/cobalt project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On Behalf of the Board,

Phil Wright, 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 or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the United States. 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.

Cautionary Notes to Investors - Reserve and Resource Estimates

In accordance with applicable Canadian securities regulatory requirements, all mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates of the Company disclosed or incorporated by reference in this Annual Information Form have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), classified in accordance with Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum’s “CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves Definitions and Guidelines” (the “CIM Guidelines”). The definitions of mineral reserves and mineral resources are set out in our disclosure of our mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates that are disclosed or incorporated by reference in this Annual Information Form.

The Company uses the terms “mineral resources”, “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred mineral resources”. While those terms are recognized by Canadian securities regulatory authorities, they are not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the SEC does not permit U.S. companies to disclose resources in their filings with the SEC.

Pursuant to the CIM Guidelines, mineral resources have a higher degree of uncertainty than mineral reserves as to their existence as well as their economic and legal feasibility. Inferred mineral resources, when compared with measured or indicated mineral resources, have the least certainty as to their existence, and it cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will be upgraded to an indicated or measured mineral resource as a result of continued exploration. Pursuant to NI 43-101, inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of any economic analysis, including any feasibility study. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource exists, will ever be converted into a mineral reserve, or is or will ever be economically or legally mineable or recovered.

(1) Operating earnings is a non-GAAP measure defined as sales, less operating costs, accretion of ARO and other provisions, selling, general and administration costs and stock-based compensation.

(2) Net debt is a Non-GAAP measure defined as available unrestricted cash less financial debt, including capital leases and other debt-related obligations.