Vannessa Arbitration Update

Vannessa Ventures Ltd.

Press Release

Vannessa Arbitration Update

27 July 2006

CALGARY, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Vannessa Ventures Ltd. (the "Company") has an arbitral claim being heard in accordance with the rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington, D.C. where Vannessa is requesting remedies under the Bilateral Investment Treaty between Venezuela and Canada. The Company, in its Request filed in July 2004, asked the Arbitration Tribunal to award restitution of Vannessa’s contractual rights to develop the Las Cristinas project and the return of all property of MINCA confiscated by the Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) and the Government of Venezuela and monetary damages of US $50 million plus interest or, in lieu of restitution, monetary damages in the amount of US $1,045 million plus interest which includes out of pocket expenses and lost profits.

Vannessa alleges that the Government of Venezuela, including their agency the CVG, which owns 5 percent of MINCA, breached the Bilateral Investment Treaty in place between Venezuela and Canada. Vannessa also alleges that the Government of Venezuela has expropriated the investments of Vannessa, Vannessa de Venezuela and MINCA without due process of law, in a discriminatory manner and without prompt adequate and effective compensation, contrary to Article VII of the Bilateral Investment Treaty, and that the Government of Venezuela failed to accord fair and equitable treatment and full security to Vannessa de Venezuela and MINCA, contrary to Article II (2) of the Treaty.

The Company submitted its Memorial setting out its argument and written evidence on January 13, 2006. Venezuela recently raised objections regarding the Tribunal’s jurisdiction in this matter and the Tribunal has scheduled a hearing to address Venezuela’s objections in May 2007. Counsel has advised the Company that jurisdictional objections are not uncommon in arbitration cases of this kind. The Company remains confident in its position that the Tribunal has jurisdiction to arbitrate this dispute. A hearing on the merits of the claim will be scheduled if the Tribunal rules in the Company’s favor on the jurisdictional objection.

Although the Company is confident in the validity of its position, there can be no assurance that it will be successful in all, or part, of its claims. Any awards arising from the claim will be shared with other shareholders or royalty holders of MINCA and Vannessa de Venezuela according to pre-existing contractual rights.

(signed)
John Morgan,
President
Vannessa Ventures Ltd.

source: