NEWS RELEASE.

July 16, 2013: Montreal, Quebec – Stornoway Diamond Corporation (Stock Profile – TSX:SWY) announces the receipt of a positive Environmental Assessment Decision for the Renard Diamond Project from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. The project has now received all of the major Québec and federal government authorizations required to commence construction.

Matt Manson, Stornoway’s President and CEO, stated: “Today’s announcement of the completion of major project permitting at Renard comes just 18 months after the filing of the project’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. This is an extraordinary achievement by Stornoway’s environmental and community engagement team, who have been aided throughout by the close cooperation and support of the Crees of Eeyou Itschee and the communities of Chibougamau and Chapais. With this latest milestone achieved, we look forward to the opening the Renard Mine Road later this year, which will make Renard the first fully-permitted diamond mining project in Canada with a permanent road.” Matt Manson continued: “With today’s news we are also pleased to announce the promotion of M. Martin Boucher to the role of Vice President, Sustainable Development, in recognition of his exemplary leadership of Stornoway’s permitting operations.”

The Renard Project falls under the social and environmental protection regimes of both the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The project’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”) was filed with the regulators in December 2011, and public hearings were held in June and August of 2012. Stornoway received its Mining Lease from the Québec Ministère des Ressources naturelles in October 2012 and its Québec Certificate of Authorization from the Québec Ministère du Développement Durable, de l’Environnement,de la Faune et des Parcs in December 2012. Today’s announcement represents the culmination of all public consultations and regulatory assessments arising from the project’s ESIA. Operating permits can now be sought for site specific activities under the authority of the overall global authorizations.

To learn more about the Renard Diamond Project – CLICK HERE.

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