Vena Resources has received an award from Asociación Civil Empresa Peruana del Año as The Best Mining Exploration Company in Peru for 2006. The Asociación Civil Empresa Peruana del Año is a non-profit organization with the mandate to encourage healthy competition amongst corporations in several industries rewarding leadership and social responsible investments as well as efficient management techniques. The committee is comprised of representatives from local universities, mining institutions and corporations.

As part of its social responsibility mandate and due to the unusually cold weather at the moment in the Andes of Peru, Vena is currently providing winter clothing to pre-school and elementary school students of the communities of Corani, Isivilla and Ikchuya in Puno, blankets to the families who are participating in the ‘JUNTOS’ programme, computer equipment to the community of Corani as well as infrastructure support efforts around three lakes in the Corani area. In addition, last week, Vena completed a very successful medical campaign in the communities surrounding the Azulcocha Zinc mine. Ten medical doctors and dentists participated in the campaign providing medical support to 300 inhabitants including 120 children of nearby communities.

Juan Vegarra commented on behalf of the company: “It is an honour to be recognized for the efforts being done in Peru by our entire team. Vena today employs over 240 people across Peru and it is encouraging to be recognized for the work being done in a socially responsible and efficient way. We continue to build strong relationships with the surrounding communities to our main projects as they are a very important stakeholder for our ongoing exploration and development efforts in Peru.”