Minera Andes announces production recommences at San Jose Mine

TSX: MAI
NASD-OTCBB: MNEAF

SPOKANE, WA, May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Minera Andes Inc. (the
"Corporation" or "Minera Andes") is pleased to announce today that it has been
advised by Minera Santa Cruz ("MSC") that after three days of stoppage the San
Jose Mine in Argentina is back in production. The San Jose Mine is operated by
Hochschild, and Minera Andes has a 49% interest in the mine.
The intervention of the Argentine government has led the two labor unions to
enter into discussions to resolve their dispute involving union affiliation.
MSC will participate in the discussions, and meanwhile the mine is resuming
operations.

Minera Andes is a gold, silver and copper exploration company working in
Argentina, where it holds approximately 304,000 acres of mineral exploration
land. As noted above, Minera Andes holds a 49% interest in the San Jose Mine.
Minera Andes is also exploring the Los Azules copper project in San Juan
province, where an exploration program has defined a resource and a
preliminary assessment has been completed. Other exploration properties,
primarily silver and gold, are also being evaluated in southern Argentina. The
Corporation has 230,538,851 common shares issued and outstanding.
This news release is submitted by Allen V. Ambrose, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Minera Andes Inc.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and
information, including those related to the resumption of work at the San Jose
Mine. The forward-looking statements and information express, as at the date
of this press release, the Corporation's plans, estimates, forecasts,
projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results.
Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and
there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate.
Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause
results or future events to differ materially from current expectations
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, factors associated with fluctuations in the market price of
precious metals, mining industry risks, risks associated with foreign
operations, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards,
uncertainty as to calculation of mineral reserves and other risks.
Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or
information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking
statements or information as a result of new information or events after the
date hereof except as may be required by law. See our annual information form
for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating
to the forward-looking statements and information. All forward-looking
statements and information made in this news release are qualified by this
cautionary statement.

SOURCE Minera Andes Inc.

Art Johnson at the Spokane office, or Krister A. Kottmeier, investor relations
- Canada, at the Vancouver office; Visit our Web site: www.minandes.com;
Spokane Office, 111 East Magnesium Road, Ste. A, Spokane, WA, 99208, USA,
Phone: (509) 921-7322, E-mail: info@minandes.com; Vancouver Office, 911-470
Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 1V5, Phone: (604) 689-7017, (877)
689-7018, E-mail: ircanada@minandes.com