Nevada Copper Closes US$200 Million Loan Facility and Concentrate Off-Take Agreement

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 28, 2013) - Nevada Copper Corp. (TSX:NCU) ("Nevada Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of a US$200 million senior secured loan facility (the "Loan Facility") and copper concentrate off-take (the "Concentrate Off-Take") agreement with RK Mine Finance ("Red Kite"). Proceeds from the Loan Facility will be used for construction of Nevada Copper's underground mining operation at its 100% owned Pumpkin Hollow copper project located near Yerington, Nevada.

A summary of the Loan Facility and Concentrate Off-Take terms are as follows:

• US$36 million has been paid to Nevada Copper. This cash amount, combined with the Company's current treasury, provides approximately US$65 million (excluding marketable securities currently valued at approximately US$17 million) to continue current shaft sinking activities, commence detailed engineering and secure long lead time equipment;
• US$15 million will be advanced on receipt of the key State permits allowing for the commencement of full construction of an underground mining operation. These permits are expected in Q2-2013 (See February 15, 2013 News Release);
• US$10 million will be advanced on passage of the Lyon County Bill and land conveyance to the City of Yerington (See February 15, 2013 News Release). This bill has been introduced on a bi-partisan basis in both the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. Passage of the bill does not affect the development timeline of the underground mining operation;
• US$139 million (US$149 million should passage of the land bill be delayed) will be advanced on the completion of certain other project milestones, including completion of the 24 foot diameter, 2,200 foot production sized shaft;
• The Loan Facility has a six year term maturing on January 3, 2019, with interest payable at an annual rate of LIBOR plus 6%. The loan and interest are repayable in equal quarterly installments commencing April 2015, and mandatory prepayments equal to 20% of excess cash, as defined in the Loan Facility are required. The Company has the ability in certain circumstances to repay the loan in full without penalty prior to maturity. The loan is secured against all current and future assets of the Company and its subsidiaries. As part of the loan agreement, the Company has paid an origination fee of 3% of the principal amount of the loan; and,
• Under the terms of the Concentrate Off-Take agreement, the Company will sell to Red Kite, for the life of the mine on the Eastern deposits (East & E2 underground mineable deposits and JK34 zone), such percentage of copper concentrates produced from the Eastern deposits on the Pumpkin Hollow project as is equal to the amount advanced by Red Kite to the Company under the loan agreement as a percentage of the US$200 million maximum principal amount of the loan.
  
  The Concentrate Off-Take agreement does not include any rights to future copper concentrate production from the open-pittable North and South deposits and provides for benchmark-referenced treatment and refining charges, and standard payment factors for contained copper, gold and silver.

Mr. Giulio Bonifacio, President and CEO commented: "We are extremely pleased with the closing of this financing with Red Kite which further validates and provides independent confirmation that the Pumpkin Hollow project will support a low-risk, and economically robust, copper mine. This financing will satisfy 100% of our capital requirements in 2013 on a non-dilutive basis while more importantly allowing us to move to commercial production in 2015 subject to receipt of permits which are expected in Q2-2013. We envisage additional project capital as required in 2014 to be funded by way of a precious metal stream, subordinated debt and a modest level of equity. Another compelling feature of this financing is that it will allow Nevada Copper the flexibility to move forward on funding the larger open pit operation by way of precious metal stream, project debt, concentrate off-take and/or strategic partnership without restriction as the Red Kite transaction is specific to the underground operation only."

Status of Site Construction Activities

The surface facilities at the East shaft site are nearing completion, with commissioning scheduled for April. These facilities include a production-sized head-frame and a 12 foot diameter double drum hoist. The 24 foot diameter, 2,200 foot production shaft, which will be concrete-lined, was developed to the 99 foot "pre-sink" level, allowing work to proceed on the shaft sub-collar and head-frame foundations, head-frame erection and hoist commissioning. The head-frame is essentially complete. Dump chutes and related equipment have arrived on site and installation is commencing. Cable tray, lighting and door and dump controls are being installed, as well as utilities in the shaft sub-collar.

The hoist contractor has completed mechanical installation of the hoist and the hoist house building is complete. Electrical cable installation is currently in progress. The hoist control room has been placed in its final position and the control console installed. Foundations have also been placed for the Galloway (sinking platform) winches and the Mary-Anne service hoist, and the winches have been set in place. The power unit for the winches is being installed.

Electrical cable installation and testing will be ongoing through March. Rope-up and final hoist commissioning is scheduled for April. Hoist commissioning will allow for resumption of shaft sinking which is expected to continue through 2013 with completion by Q1-2014. Head-frame and hoist photos can be seen on our project website at www.pumpkinhollowcopper.com.

About Red Kite

RK Mine Finance specializes in providing mining companies with project financing and metal off-take agreements for initiation or expansion of mine production and is part of the Red Kite Group. The Red Kite Group is one of the largest metal merchants in the world and has over US$3.1 billion under management as at December 31, 2012, with US$1.7 billion dedicated exclusively to the mine finance business. As a result of their extensive experience, the mine finance team is able to both tailor and expedite financing solutions for mining companies.

The Red Kite Group operates across the global metals industry from offices in Bermuda, Denver, Hong Kong, London, New York, Shanghai and Sydney. Investors in Red Kite funds include college endowments, foundations, family offices, pensions and other institutional investors. For additional information about Red Kite please visit www.rkminefinance.com.

About Nevada Copper

Nevada Copper has 80.5 million shares outstanding and is well funded for purposes of advancing its 100% owned Pumpkin Hollow copper project to commercial production in 2015. For additional information about Nevada Copper please visit our website at www.nevadacopper.com.

NEVADA COPPER CORP.

Giulio T. Bonifacio, President & CEO