More GOLD in the future

Avion production reaches 8,100 ounces gold in December

Avion Gold Corp (C:AVR)
Shares Issued 293,341,813
Last Close 1/8/2010 $0.72
Monday January 11 2010 - News Release

Mr. John Begeman reports

AVION ANNOUNCES RECORD PRODUCTION IN Q4-21,300 OUNCES

Avion Gold Corp. has released record monthly production of approximately 8,100 ounces of gold in December, 2009, from its Tabakoto/Segala operations in Mali, West Africa, and record quarterly production of approximately 21,300 ounces of gold in the fourth quarter of 2009 at a preliminary cash cost of less than $495(1) per ounce of gold. All figures are shown in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise specified. The total annual production for 2009 was approximately 51,300 ounces of gold and exceeded the previous forecast (50,000 ounces), at a cash cost expected at less than $530(1) per ounce of gold.

Since starting mining operations in the first quarter, the company has recorded the following production highlights:

• Quarterly gold production has steadily increased;

• Ore grades have increased;

• Mill recoveries have improved.

                               Q1(1)   Q2(2)    Q3(3)       Q4   2009(4)
                     partial quarter                              total

Ore milled (000 t)              76.0   182.6    125.1    179.1    562.8
Head grade (g/t Au)             2.74    1.99     3.25     3.83     2.95
Recovery (%)                    92.8    93.7     95.5     96.7     95.4
Gold production (oz)           6,958  10,992   12,517   21,307   51,291

(1) Mill was restarted on Feb. 17, 2009. Gold production includes
    747 ounces recovered from plant cleanup work in 2009 prior to the 
    mill restart.
(2) Commercial production was declared May 1, 2009.
(3) Includes two weeks downtime due to heavy rainfall and road
    transportation issues.
(4) 2009 Total adjusted by minus-483 ounces to reconcile to refined 
    ounces.

During the month of December the company milled 67,500 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 3.87 grams per tonne Au, with a 96.6-per-cent mill recovery.

Commenting on the 2009 production numbers, Avion's president and chief executive officer, John Begeman, stated: "Avion's focus on this mine has resulted in a highly successful new start-up, and has set the stage for Avion's continued growth in 2010 and beyond."

100,000-ounce production planned in 2010

Plans for 2010 include open pit mining at the Segala Main and Northwest deposits, and mining a small open pit at the Tabakoto deposit. Underground development of the Tabakoto deposit is planned to be well under way during the year. Gold production is estimated at approximately 23,000 ounces per quarter for the first three quarters, increasing to 32,000 ounces in the fourth quarter as the amount of development ore from Tabakoto underground increases.