Augusta Resource Corporation: Rosemont Copper Awards EPCM to M3 Engineering and Appoints Mine Manager

DENVER, COLORADO, Apr 17 (MARKET WIRE) --
Augusta Resource Corporation (TSX: AZC)(AMEX: AZC)(FRANKFURT: A5R)
("Augusta") is pleased to announce its wholly-owned subsidiary Rosemont
Copper Company ("Rosemont" or the "Company") has awarded a $56 million
engineering, procurement and construction management ("EPCM") contract to
M3 Engineering & Technology Corporation ("M3") for the development and
construction of the Rosemont Copper mine near Tucson, Arizona. M3
completed the bankable feasibility study for Rosemont back in August
2007, which was approved by Augusta's Board for development as a low cost
open pit mine with a sulfide concentrator and SX/EW plant to treat
sulfide and oxide mineral reserves.

President and CEO, Gil Clausen, stated, "In keeping with our objectives
established at the start of this year, we are pleased to move forward
with M3 to commence design engineering on this project."

M3 is a full-service international contractor firm providing engineering,
procurement and construction management services to the minerals
industry, with offices in Tucson and Chandler in Arizona, as well as
Zacatecas and Hermosillo in Mexico. Founded in 1986 with a current staff
of over 450 employees, M3 has engineered and managed some $4.0 billion in
mining projects, and notably, has won numerous recognitions including the
prestigious 2005 AISC Engineering Award for Excellence and the American
Mining Hall of Fame's 2007 Mining Foundation of the Southwest Industry
Partnership Award.

Internal Appointments

Rosemont is also pleased to announce the appointment of Fermin Samorano
to the position of Mine Manager. Mr. Samorano is a professional mining
engineer and seasoned operator with both domestic and international
experience in

large-scale open pit mining operations, including the implementation of
safety, production, environmental protection, and mine planning programs.
He joins Rosemont from Corriente Resources where he served as the Project
Manager for the Mirador Project in Ecuador. Mr. Samorano is a native of
Tucson, where he started his career in supervisory roles at various
Arizona copper mines before working as the Senior Mining Operations
Manager for Washington Group International at different operations in
Venezuela and Nevada.

The Company continues to add to its development team having recently
engaged Kathy Arnold as Director of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs,
Buck Andrews as Controller, and Scott Walston as Purchasing and Supply
Manager.

ABOUT AUGUSTA RESOURCE CORPORATION - Augusta Resource Corporation is a
base metals company focused on advancing the Rosemont Copper deposit
located near Tucson, Arizona. Rosemont currently hosts a 7.2 billion
pound copper resource that will account for 10% of US copper output once
in production in 2011. The deposit also contains 180 million pounds of
molybdenum and 75 million ounces of silver. A bankable feasibility study
was completed in August 2007, and the Company is now working through the
National Environmental Policy Act permitting process. The exceptional
experience and strength of our management team, combined with the
developed infrastructure and robust economics of this project, will
propel Augusta to become a solid mid-tier copper producer within the next
three years. The company is traded on the American Stock Exchange and the
Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AZC, and on the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange under the symbol A5R.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gil Clausen, President and CEO

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein and in
the documents incorporated by reference may contain forward-looking
statements or information within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward looking statements
or information within the meaning of the Securities Act (Ontario).
Forward-looking statements or information include statements regarding
the expectations and beliefs of management. Forward looking statements or
information include, but are not limited to, statements or information
with respect to known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the
Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or
information 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 or information, including, without
limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's plans at
its Rosemont Property and other mineral properties, the interpretation of
drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, 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, metal recoveries, accidents, equipment
breakdowns, title matters, labor disputes or other unanticipated
difficulties with or interruptions in production and operations, the
potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the
completion of feasibility studies, the inherent uncertainty of production
and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses,
commodity price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, failure to obtain
adequate financing on a timely basis, the effect of hedging activities,
including margin limits and margin calls, regulatory restrictions,
including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability, the
speculative nature of mineral exploration, dilution, competition, loss of
key employees, and other risks and uncertainties, including those
described under "Risk Factors Relating to the Company's Business" in the
Company's Annual Information Form dated March 4, 2008. 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 or information. We do not expect to update
forward-looking statements or information continually as conditions
change, and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company's
business contained in the Company's reports filed with the securities
regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States.

Contacts:
Augusta Resource Corporation
Gil Clausen
President & CEO
(303) 300-0134
(303) 300-0135 (FAX)
Email: gclausen@augustaresource.com

Augusta Resource Corporation
Marlo Hamer-Jackson
Investor Relations Manager
(604) 638-2002
(604) 687-1715 (FAX)
Email: mhamer-jackson@augustaresource.com
Website: www.augustaresource.com

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