Only six months after acquiring a significant land position on the world renowned copper belt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), El Niño Ventures (OTC BB: ELNOF; TSX.V: ELN; Frankfurt: E7Q) -- www.elninoventures.com -- is wasting no time advancing and expanding its promising project.
       El Niño Ventures is in the forefront of exploration along the 60-kilometer-wide and 600-kilometer-long DRC Copper Belt, which hosts multiple world class deposits. The area’s exploration potential is considered to be among the best in the world. Major mining companies, including Phelps Dodge and First Quantum Minerals are in construction on world class ore bodies. Several junior companies – led by El Niño – are actively exploring for copper and other minerals.
       On April 13th El Nino announced the start of a 25,000 meter drill program on its project in the Democratoc Republic of Congo (DRC). The first of three drill rigs will commence drilling on the high grade copper zone where the company reported 3.5 % Cu over 10 meters. The two other additional drill rigs will be operational on May1st 2008.
       Jean Luc Roy, President and CEO of El Nino states, “ The dry season in the DRC is upon us and I am very pleased to announce the start of an extensive exploration and drilling program for 2008. We will follow up on promising results already obtained and we look forward to drill test other areas that show strong indicators on our permits. We are embarking on a very ambitious program and look forward to keeping our investors updated on our progress in the DRC.”

       El Niño controls 350 square km, encompassing multiple artisanal workings, directly on the DRC Copper Belt. In a joint venture agreement with GCP Group Ltd., a private Congolese company, El Niño holds an initial 70% interest in four research permits granted by the DRC government and located between Lubumbashi and Likasi. Last year, the DRC held its first free election in a half-century and remains committed to its 2003 mining code, written with the assistance of the World Bank, that has attracted major mining companies and a growing roster of juniors. El Niño’s property has easy access for exploration and excellent infrastructure. A long history of artisanal mining in the area has created a substantial cadre of skilled workers.
       El Niño property is right between two new discoveries – Tiger Resources’ Kipoi project (7.31% Cu over 122 meters) just four kilometers west, and Anvil Mining’s new Kinsevere discovery (10.9% Cu over 21 meters) three kilometers to the east. The projects are all on the same geologic trend, which runs right through the middle of El Niño’s property, and are adjacent to land holdings by such majors as BHP Billiton and Gecamines.
       El Niño has a option to earn up to 90% on its DRC property. Roy says the company also is negotiating to significantly expand its property holdings in the area.
       “Our camp is fully operational, and our very experienced team has done a tremendous job getting everything into place to allow us to drill 5,000 meters before the rainy season. The start of the drill program is a very telling statement in our ability to operate in the DRC,” says Roy.
       After the discovery this summer of new copper showings, El Niño expanded its reverse circulation drilling program from 5,000 to 7,000-meters. The new zone is two kilometers from the center of the main zone identified earlier by a remote sensing survey. Sampling has confirmed substantial visible copper mineralization.
       The program involves some 50 shallow holes averaging about 100 meters deep on a 200-meter spacing, mostly along existing artisanal workings on the property. Core chip samples will be collected and assayed by ALS Chemex laboratories in South Africa. Results of an airborne geophysical survey performed to confirm known mineralized copper zones also are pending.

       El Niño is currently in the midst of a 25,000 meter, two-year, $10 million drilling program on its Bathurst joint venture with Xstrata Zinc Canada. Half of the cost of the exploration program is covered by a grant from the New Brunswick government. The drill targets were identified last year using the Titan 24 Deep Earth Imaging System. Five drill rigs are running 24-hours a day and when the current program is completed in March 2008, El Niño will have earned up to a 50% interest in the project.
       The Bathurst Mining Camp is a world class mining district and is home to North America’s largest underground zinc mine. A number of both past and present mines contained zinc, lead and silver volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits.
Earlier exploratory drilling by El Niño intersected a horizon of massive to semi-massive sulphide mineralization, appearing to represent an up-dip, near surface extension of the Gilmour South mineralized trend. Combined assay results graded 3.39% zinc, 2.86% lead, 0.15% copper and 8.36 g/t silver over 2.8 meters. The mineralized trend occurs along the Brunswick Horizon in a geological setting similar to the Brunswick No. 12 and No. 6 deposits.

       El Niño recently acquired 13 prospecting licenses encompassing 428 square kilometers in Ireland, supplier of most of Western Europe’s zinc and lead needs. Ireland’s Lower Carboniferous limestones host significant zinc and lead mineralization.
       Anglo American Lisheen Mining, Boliden Tara Mines, and Lundin Mining Exploration are already operating zinc and lead mines in Ireland. Xstrata Zinc and Teck Cominco Ireland are currently exploring for base metals.
       “The newly acquired land position in Ireland provides us with excellent prospective ground for the discovery of high grade zinc mineralization for which Ireland is renowned,” says Roy. A Dublin-based consultant will recommend an initial exploration program for 2008.

       El Niño Ventures boasts a superior management team, led by President and CEO Jean Luc Roy, who has extensive exploration, development and production experience in Africa.
       Previously, Roy was the Managing Director of First Quantum Minerals, heading up a technical team that brought two mines into production – increasing the company’s work force to 900 employees and elevating its market cap from the millions into the billions. He also worked for International Gold Resources, Ashanti Goldfields, and Semafo during his 20-year tenure in Africa.
       Much to El Niño stockholder’s benefit, Roy is able to draw on his extensive African contacts to fast track El Niño’s efforts in the DRC.
       “This significant new acquisition in the DRC,” says Roy, “is the first step in our objective of controlling a leading base metal portfolio.”

       El Niño Ventures is staying true to its business strategy – applying the latest technologies to advanced stage exploration targets on underexplored properties located in known mining camps. Its New Brunswick joint venture is a stone’s throw from one of the world’s largest operating zinc mines. The company also operates in an area of Africa long known as a prime source of copper and other base metal mineralization.
       El Niño is in excellent financial shape with C$8 million in its treasury plus outstanding pledged warrants. Its 2008 exploration programs in the DRC and at the Bathurst Mining Camp are fully funded and money is available to begin exploration on its new Irish properties.
       “Our mission at El Niño Ventures,” says President and CEO Jean Luc Roy, “is to continue developing our existing projects, embark on an aggressive acquisition program to acquire new projects, and eventually place these projects into production.”