VANCOUVER, May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Donald R. Lindsay, President and Chief Executive Officer of Teck Cominco Limited and Michael A. Grandin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fording Canadian Coal Trust are pleased to announce that Mr. Boyd Payne will join Elk Valley Coal Partnership as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Payne will replace Mr. Jim Popowich who will be retiring once a date for Mr. Payne to assume his new duties has been determined. Mr. Payne was most recently Vice President, Marketing for BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA). Prior to joining BMA, Mr. Payne was Vice President, Marketing for Fording Coal Limited, whose metallurgical coal operations were acquired by Elk Valley Coal in 2003. Mr. Payne also held several senior positions with Manalta Coal Ltd., including Vice President, Marketing and General Manager of Gregg River Resources Ltd. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Victoria. "We are delighted that Boyd Payne is joining Elk Valley Coal and welcome him to the Elk Valley Coal executive team," said Mr. Lindsay. Mr. Grandin said that the Trustees are very pleased by Mr. Payne's appointment. "Boyd brings a wealth of international experience to Elk Valley Coal," Mr. Grandin stated. Mr. Lindsay also announces the upcoming retirement of Jim Popowich as President & Chief Executive Officer following 37 years of service with Elk Valley Coal and its predecessors. "Jim has served Elk Valley Coal and its predecessors with distinction," Mr. Lindsay said. "Over the past three years, he has provided valuable leadership in integrating the operations of Elk Valley Coal into a world class mining company. We wish him a long and happy retirement." Mr. Grandin stated that Jim Popowich will continue to serve as President of the Trust to ensure a smooth transition in leadership. "It is anticipated Mr. Payne will assume these responsibilities from Mr. Popowich at an appropriate time," he said. Earlier this week, Jim Popowich was named President Elect of the Canadian Institute on Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. "I want to use part of my retirement to give back to an industry that has given so much to me over my career," Mr. Popowich said. Teck Cominco is a diversified mining company, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TEK.MV.A and TEK.SV.B. The company is a world leader in the production of zinc and metallurgical coal and is also a significant producer of copper, gold and specialty metals. Further information can be found at http://www.teckcominco.com/. CONTACT: David Parker Director, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability 604.687.1117 Fording Canadian Coal Trust is an open-ended mutual fund trust. Through investments in metallurgical coal and industrial minerals mining and processing operations, the Trust makes quarterly cash distributions to unitholders. The Trust, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, holds a 60% interest in the Elk Valley Coal Partnership and is a leading producer of the industrial mineral wollastonite. Elk Valley Coal, comprised of Canada's senior metallurgical coal mining properties, is the world's second largest exporter of metallurgical coal, supplying high-quality coal products to the international steel industry. The Trust's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FDG.UN and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FDG. CONTACT: Paul Armstrong Catherine Hart Director, Investor Relations Investor Relations Analyst Ph: 403-260-5215 Ph: 403-260-9817 Email: Website: http://www.fording.ca/ DATASOURCE: Fording Canadian Coal Trust CONTACT: Paul Armstrong, Director, Investor Relations, Ph: (403) 260-5215; Catherine Hart, Investor Relations Analyst, Ph: (403) 260-9817; Email: , Website: http://www.fording.ca/; To request a free copy of this organization's annual report, please go to http://www.newswire.ca/ and click on Tools for Investors.

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