UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
CIK # 878518
as at January 8, 2010
TASEKO MINES LIMITED
800 West Pender Street, Suite 1020
Vancouver , British Columbia
Canada V6C 2V6
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or
Form 40-F.
Form 20-F...X.... Form 40-F.........
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper
of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to
security holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in
this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No .....
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to
the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
By: /s/ Russell E. Hallbauer
Director and Chief Executive Officer
Date: January 19, 2010
Print the name and title of the signing officer under his signature.
800 West Pender
Street, Suite 1020
Vancouver , British Columbia
Canada V6C 2V6
Tel: 604-684-6365
Fax: 604-684-8092
TASEKO ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER PRODUCTION UPDATE
January 8, 2010, Vancouver, BC - Taseko Mines
Limited (TSX: TKO; NYSE Amex: TGB) ("Taseko" or the "Company")
reports unaudited fourth quarter and year end production results for its Gibraltar
Mine.
For the fourth quarter of 2009, the Gibraltar Mine produced 17.3 million pounds
of copper and 113 thousand pounds of molybdenum. For 2009, annual production
was 70.3 million pounds of copper and 629 thousand pounds of molybdenum.
The fourth quarter production breakdown is as follows:
| October |
November |
December |
|
| Mill Throughput (millions, tons) | 1.1 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
| Recoveries (%) | 79.9 |
82.8 |
89.8 |
| Production (millions, lbs) | 4.8 |
5.7 |
6.8 |
The mine returned to steady state operating condition
by November, following the geotechnical event in July.
Russell Hallbauer, President and CEO of Taseko, commented, "With the Gibraltar
operation back on track after the geotechnical problem in the Granite Pit
was resolved, site personnel have focussed on metal recoveries associated
with optimizing the performance of the recently installed tower mill, as opposed
to pushing mill throughput. As a consequence, recoveries increased from 80%
to 90% during the quarter and are now approaching design targets. In the coming
months, material handling bottlenecks will be addressed and with the completion
of the few remaining capital projects, daily throughput tonnage will increase
to 55,000 tons per day."
Mr. Hallbauer continued, "We continue to make steady progress with construction
activities at the mine. The tailings pumping system and in pit crushing and
conveying system are near completion. Detailed design of the new coarse ore
reclaim facility is in its final stages and construction is expected to begin
in March. With these initiatives underway, we are on schedule to increase
annual copper capacity to 115 million pounds by the end of 2010."
For further information on Taseko, please see the Company's website www.tasekomines.com
or contact:
Brian Bergot, Investor Relations - 778-373-4545, toll free 1-800-667-2114
Russell Hallbauer
President and CEO
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information contained
in this news release.
Forward
Looking Statements
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking
statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of
historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration
drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company
expects are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the
expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable
assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and
actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in forward-looking statements include capital market conditions, commodities
market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, lack of continuity
of mineralization, continued availability of capital and financing, the ability
to obtain and maintain required permits, including environmental, construction
and mining permits and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors
are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance
and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected
in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, Investors
should review the Company's annual Form 40-F filing with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission or the Company's home jurisdiction
filings at www.sedar.com.