VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - April 9, 2009) - Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. (the "Company") (TSX:PTQ)(OTCBB:PTQMF)(FRANKFURT:P7Z) is pleased to provide an update on the commissioning of its wholly-owned Molejon Gold Mine in Panama. As previously announced the Company had initiated pit site preparation and testing of production equipment in late January. Subsequent testing of the gold room recovery processes resulted in a first gold pour on April 7, 2009. The Company maintains its previous estimate that the processing facility will reach its full rated capacity of 2200 tonnes per day in June 2009.
Further to the Company's news release dated January 16, 2009, the Company continues to work closely with the Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente ("ANAM") in compliance with ANAM's Resolution dated November 26, 2008, approving the Company's Environmental Impact Study Category III and will continue to collaborate with ANAM to ensure an orderly transition from pre-production to the commencement of commercial production.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of PETAQUILLA MINERALS LTD.
Richard Fifer, President and Chief Executive Officer
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. Richard Fifer President and Chief Executive Officer (604) 694-0021 (604) 694-0063 (FAX) Website: www.petaquilla.com No stock exchange has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
