Westcore Commences 2011 Drilling Program, Intersects Composite 85-Metre Coal Section in First Hole

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Jan. 21, 2011) - Westcore Energy Ltd. ("Westcore" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:WTR) is pleased to announce that the winter drilling program at its coal properties in west-central Manitoba has commenced. The first target being drilled is the Ambit deposit on the Black Diamond property (see Figure with this news release). Ambit was tested with only one hole last winter (Hole BD-10-03) that intersected a 41.6-metre-wide continuous coal unit (see Westcore news release dated March 22, 2010). The first hole of 2011 (AM-11-01) is located approximately 140 metres north of Hole BD-10-03 and is situated over the centre of a pronounced, circular Gravity low. 

Hole AM-11-01 has been completed and was drilled to a depth of 178 metres. Hole BD-10-03, by comparison, was only drilled to 81 metres, having terminated within a 5.5-metre thick sand unit beneath the coal. Hole AM-11-01 intersected a coal unit of approximately 37 metres thickness, beginning around 44 metres depth, before it entered a similar sand unit around 80 metres depth. The hole, however, continued past the sand unit (which was 7 metres thick) and entered into a second major coal unit, starting around 87 metres depth. The second coal unit measures approximately 48 metres in thickness, for a total aggregate coal thickness of approximately 85 metres. Visual inspection of both units indicates them to contain black to dark brown coal that is light in weight with very minor partings.

Paul Conroy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Westcore, states, "We are extremely pleased to have received such impressive preliminary results from the very first hole of our winter program. The existence of a second major coal unit situated below an already remarkable thickness of coal at Ambit will substantially add to the coal reserves of the Ambit deposit. We now look forward to testing all of our targets for the existence of multiple, thick coal units."

The purpose of the winter drilling program is four-fold:

1) Drill-define at least three of the four known coal deposits at Black Diamond;

2) Test known targets not previously drilled: the Black Diamond 'Calypso' target, and the 'Quasar' target, located on the JV Coal Property (held jointly by Westcore and 49 North Resources Inc.);

3) Test three new targets identified by the airborne Gravity survey flown in December 2010 (see Westcore's news releases dated December 6 and 14, 2010); and

4) Collect a 1-tonne bulk sample for Coal-to-Liquids analysis.

After all of the holes planned for the Ambit deposit are completed, the drill will be moved to the Quasar target.

Ellen MacNeill, Professional Geoscientist in the Province of Saskatchewan and Qualified Person for this news release, has reviewed and approved its contents.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Corporation, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable securities requirements, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view a map of the area, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/121wtr.pdf.