bane2007

Crystallex’s Las Cristinas Contract in Doubt

Dear rcrowell, Thank you for your interest in my article. The traction the article has gained has caught me by surprise. Your level of hostility is also surprising.

Thank you also for providing your credentials but I don't see your need for listing them other an attempt at gaining come level of credibility for your argument. What does you in though is your focus on Crystallex's pending environmental permit application as an evaluation of the article. If you decide to reread the article, you will see that it is not the focus of the article and is not even mentioned. I hope you do not display this type of attention deficit at your place of work.

Moreover the article was about mining legislation in Venezuela and comments made by President Chavez, a topic you did not even touch on.

In this regard, your whole critique lacks any connection to the article. Your discussions with individuals at SNC Lavalin and Crystallex's CEO fare the same fate.

As you deem yourself an expert at understanding the permitting and development process, you might consider replying to the following questions in order to assist your friend and other readers.

A) If the permitting process is a lengthy one, how is it Crystallex was able to tell investors that they expected to receive it mere months after handing over the EISA ? How has it been possible that Crystallex has been telling investors that it expected to receive the permit any day, sooner rather than later or at any moment for several years but then the CEO Gordon Thompson said Crystallex had only recently submitted the final documentation to the MinAmb ?

B) I will give you one thing. When pointing out a mistake I have alread admitted to and apologized for, you said that the problem with evaluating a 2-year old documentation is that it could have impacted a decision to buy a stock, in your case, Phelps Dodge. I would like to turn your attention to another 2 years old document. Crystallex's feasibility study.

With your education and knowledge of the industry, how much do you think the costs listed in the study will increase accounting for inflation, penalty fees, contract renegotiations and all ?

Knowing even an estimate of the current numbers may well impact a decision to buy a stock.

Regards,

JLB