VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 18, 2010) - Fortress Minerals Corp. (TSX VENTURE:FST) ("Fortress") is pleased to announce the completion of the 310 kilometre winter road to the Svetloye Gold Project in the Russian Far East and the commencement of mobilization to site of fuel and supplies to support the 2010 program. A total of 400 tonnes of diesel fuel and 200 tonnes of supplies are being shipped via the winter road to support the planned 6,000-metre drill and 3,000-metre trenching program. Mobilization is planned for completion by March 15th, with drilling to begin in early May.

The Svetloye Project consists of nine prospects that occur over a linear distance of eight kilometres. Prior to the 2009 drilling and trenching programs, the total inferred resources at Svetloye, including the Elena, Amy and Tamara prospects was estimated at 20.1 million tonnes grading 2.21 g/t gold containing 1.428 million ounces of gold (see Press Release dated April 23, 2009).

Gold is associated with extensive zones of vuggy silica, quartz-alunite and quartz-dickite-kaolinite alteration. This style of mineralization is common to Pierina, Veladero and other high sulphidation epithermal deposits. Fortress owns a 100% interest in the Svetloye Project.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Lukas H. Lundin
President and CEO

This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Company's plans for its properties. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to political risks involving the Company's exploration and development of its properties, the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, the inability or failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's periodic filings with the British Columbia Securities Commission. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. The Company does not intend to update this information and disclaims any legal liability to the contrary.