Trading Symbol: CCY

January 20, 2012,  VANCOUVER, B.C. – Catalyst Copper Corp. today announced an updated Measured plus Indicated Resource of 354.1 million tonnes grading 0.41% Cu; 0.043 g/t Au; 2.3 g/t Ag at its La Verde copper porphyry deposit in Michoacán State, Mexico.  This represents a 71% increase in tonnage and 54% in contained copper over the previous resource released in January, 2011 (Table 1)

The resource, which was calculated using a 0.2% Cu cut-off, was completed by Wardrop, A Tetra Tech Company (Tetra Tech), and incorporates all drilling results from the 15,819 metres in 24 holes completed by the Company during 2011. This resource now includes gold and silver values not previously modeled as sufficient drill results now exist for these elements.

La Verde consists of two proximal deposits referred to as East Hill and West Hill. The deposits are amenable to low cost open pit mining methods and are located in an area of excellent infrastructure; rail, power, water and highways all cross the property.

“We are extremely pleased with the updated resource numbers,” says Terry Hodson, V.P. Exploration. “Drill holes released from the 2011 drill program consistently returned encouraging results and the increased deposit size reflects those drill results. We believe there is still room for further expansion of the total deposit resource and our 2012 drill program will target these areas”.

Catalyst Copper plans to use the updated resource to prepare a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for La Verde. Tetra Tech has commenced work on the preparation of preliminary open pit models for the deposits to be used in the PEA.

The 2012 resource was prepared by T. Maunula, P.Geo, Chief Geostatistician Tetra Tech who is an independent qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. The Mineral Resource estimate was completed using a 3D computer model. The drill hole database was based on 637 drill holes for a total of 108,800 meters, 46,105 assays. A composite interval of 5 meters was used and constrained to geological rock types. A single block model (10 x 10 x 10 meters) was created to envelope both mineralized deposits. Block grades were interpolated using the kriging technique. The estimate did not employ a high grade copper cap. A density (specific gravity) of 2.70 g/cm3 was used for the deposit (porphyry style mineralization). All QA/QC requirements have been followed including incorporating standards, blanks and duplicates into the assay procedures and independent check analyses by a second laboratory.

T.W. Hodson, P.Geo. is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and has reviewed the technical disclosure contained herein and accepts responsibility for such disclosure.

La Verde property is subject to a three year option agreement with a Mexican subsidiary of Teck Resources Limited (Teck), further details available on the Company’s website at www.catalystcopper.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
CATALYST COPPER CORP.

"Terence W. Hodson, P.Geo."

TERENCE HODSON, V.P. EXPLORATION

For further information please contact Corporate Communications Officer: Denby Greenslade (604) 638-5900.

Catalyst Copper Corp. will be exhibiting at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference on January 22^nd and 23^rd 2012. Please come by and see us at booth number 1027 in the Vancouver Convention Centre West.

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, risks associated with mineral exploration and mining activities, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals, and the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Quality Assurance: The Company employs a system of quality control for drill results which includes the use of blanks, certified reference materials (standards) and check assaying. Core is logged on site and split with a diamond saw. Samples are shipped to Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd. for analysis. All elements with the exception of gold are analyzed by Aqua Regia digestion and ICP-ES analysis. Gold is analyzed by fire assay method.