Western Canadian Coal Announces Fourth Quarter 2007 Operating Results

Business Wire,  June 30, 2007  

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Western Canadian Coal Corp. (TSX: WTN) (TSX:WTN.DB) (AIM: WTN) ("WCCC" or the "Company") presents its operating results for the three and twelve months ending March 31, 2007:

    Financial and Operating Summary:

    -   Sales for the quarter consist of shipments of 102,000 tonnes
        of ultra-low volatile pulverized coal injection (ULV-PCI)
        coal at an average price of $77.58 (US$66.78) per tonne and
        372,000 tonnes of hard coking coal at an average price of
        $99.00 (US$84.59) per tonne. Year-to-date sales consist of
        669,000 tonnes of ULV-PCI coal at an average price of $84.54
        (US$74.59) per tonne and 741,000 tonnes of hard coking coal
        at an average price of $104.61 (US$90.52) per tonne.

    -   Net loss for the quarter is $3.3 million compared to a net
        loss of $1.9 million for the same quarter in fiscal 2006.
        Year-to-date net loss is $13.0 million compared to a net
        income in fiscal 2006 of $7.5 million. The increased loss in
        fiscal 2007 is primarily due to the operating costs and debt
        servicing costs associated with the start up of the Wolverine
        mine.

    -   Operating loss of $1.1 million for the quarter ending
        March 31, 2007 on sales of $44.8 million. Year-to-date
        operating profit is $8.9 million on sales of $134.1 million.
        Operating profit for the quarter and year ending March 31,
        2006 are $ nil and $19.3 million, respectively, on sales of
        $11.1 million and $59.6 million.

    -   The operating loss during the current quarter was a result of
        a slower than expected start-up at Wolverine. This was caused
        by shortages of skilled operators and tradesmen, severe
        weather and disrupted shipments to port arising from rail
        issues. The Company believes that these issues have been
        substantially overcome effective the first quarter of fiscal
        2008.

    -   Mining operations began at the Brule mine in the fourth
        quarter after receiving an amended mine permit allowing for
        production of 2.0 million tonnes of ULV-PCI coal. The Brule
        mine produced 173,000 tonnes of run-of-mine (ROM) coal and
        hauled 115,000 tonnes of coal to the rail loadout.

    -   During the fourth quarter, mining operations at the Wolverine
        mine included waste stripping of 3.3 million bank cubic
        metres (BCMs) and 696,000 tonnes of ROM coal mined, resulting
        in a 4.7 to 1 strip ratio. For the quarter, 381,000 tonnes of
        clean coal were produced from 549,000 tonnes of ROM coal (a
        yield of 69.4%).

    -   To March 31, 2007, mining operations at the Wolverine mine
        include waste stripping of 10.1 million BCMs and
        1,486,000 tonnes of ROM coal mined, resulting in a 6.8 to
        1 strip ratio. To March 31, 2007, 921,000 tonnes of clean
        coal were produced from 1,335,000 tonnes of ROM coal (a yield
        of 69.0%).

News Release & Conference Call Details

This news release is prepared as at June 29, 2007 and should be read in conjunction with the Company's March 31, 2007 audited financial statements and notes contained therein, as well as the interim unaudited financial statements and MD&A's for the quarters ended June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2006. This news release does not constitute Management's Discussion and Analysis as contemplated by relevant securities rules. Western Canadian Coal Corp.'s March 31, 2007 audited financial statements and MD&A and the interim financial statements and MD&A's for the periods referred to above are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile.

John W. Hogg, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Company, will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the fourth quarter results on Friday, July 6, 2007 at 8:00am Pacific/11:00am Eastern. The conference call can be accessed by calling 416-644-3420 or toll-free on 1-800-814-4861 prior to the scheduled start time. An archived recording of the call will be available for two weeks after the completion of the call by dialing 416-640-1917 or 1-877-289-8525, both using passcode 21238900 followed by the number sign.

A live and archived audio webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's website at www.westerncoal.com.

    Financial Summary:

    (In thousands of Canadian dollars,           March 31,  March 31,
     except tonnes and per share data)             2007       2006
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    Cash & cash equivalents                     $  35,272  $  71,274
    Inventory                                      28,522     23,631
    Other current                                  29,803     19,153
    Total Assets                                  445,305    341,280

    Current liabilities                            75,063     53,621
    Long-term liabilities                         196,860    125,920
    Shareholders' equity                        $ 173,382  $ 161,739
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                           Three months ending   For the year ending
                                March 31,             March 31,
                             2007       2006       2007       2006
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    ULV-PCI coal tonnes
     shipped                102,000    142,000    669,000    548,000
    Hard coking coal
     tonnes shipped         372,000          -    741,000          -

    Revenue               $  44,760  $  11,094  $ 134,121  $  59,594
    Cost of goods sold       45,869     11,057    125,231     40,296
    Operating profit         (1,109)        37      8,890     19,298
    Other expenses            5,965      3,562     27,999     18,364
    Income tax recovery       3,785      1,585      6,124      6,520
    Net income (loss)     $  (3,289) $  (1,940) $ (12,985) $   7,454

    Earnings (loss) per
     share, basic         $   (0.03) $   (0.03) $   (0.14) $    0.09
    Earnings (loss) per
     share, diluted       $   (0.03) $   (0.03) $   (0.14) $    0.09
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