"This winter's program was the largest in the seven year history of Synenco Energy," said Executive Vice President of Operations Steve Gilliland. "We completed the program with zero lost-time incidents; we gained valuable information that should lead to greater clarification about our resource; and we built facilities that will improve performance in future years."

Of the program's core holes, 174 were drilled on NLP's Western Lease to further advance mine planning in the area where the initial Northern Lights mine pit is expected; 63 were drilled on the McClelland Lease as part of the second half of the initial exploration program on the lease; and eight were drilled on NLP's coal lease application area. Indications of mineable bitumen meeting the company's physical cut-off parameters were noted in holes drilled in the southeastern area of the McClelland Lease.

Synenco Energy will report geological results and resource updates incorporating the results of this winter's drilling program once analysis by an independent geological engineering firm has been completed in the second half of the year.

In addition to the 245 core holes, highlights of the company's 2006/2007 program included:

- drilling of almost 300 auger holes as part of Northern Lights' program for groundwater investigation, facility foundation design, and to confirm the absence of oil sand under planned locations of certain facilities;

- collection of a 1,400-tonne bulk sample, which will provide Northern Lights with oil sand to run extraction pilot plant tests scheduled for later this year;

- commissioning of a new 250-bed camp that will allow for earlier winter season access; and,

- improvements made to waste handling and drilling fluid disposal facilities. -- www.cnxmarketlink.com