ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, Jan 23, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) —
The special committee of independent directors (the “Special Committee”) of Aurora Energy Resources Inc. (”Aurora” or the “Company”) (TSX: AXU) today acknowledged that Fronteer Development Group Inc. (”Fronteer”) has announced that it has filed with securities regulators in Canada and the United States and has commenced the mailing of its formal offer (the “Fronteer Offer”) to acquire all of the common shares of Aurora that it does not already own on the basis of 0.825 of a Fronteer common share for each Aurora common share. The Fronteer Offer will expire at 8:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on March 2, 2009, unless extended or withdrawn, and is subject to certain conditions.

As previously announced, the Special Committee has retained National Bank Financial Inc. as its financial advisor to give it financial and strategic advice in connection with the Fronteer Offer in its efforts to maximize shareholder value. National Bank Financial Inc. has commenced a process of canvassing potential parties to identify possible alternative transactions that would provide greater value to shareholders than the Fronteer Offer, although there can be no assurance that any such alternative transaction will emerge. National Bank Financial Inc. will also assess the fairness of the Fronteer Offer consideration, from a financial point of view, to the Company’s shareholders, other than Fronteer and its affiliates.

There is no immediate urgency for Aurora shareholders to do anything with respect to the Fronteer Offer. The Aurora Board of Directors will communicate further with shareholders prior to the expiry of the Fronteer Offer, including the mailing of a directors’ circular to shareholders, so that Aurora shareholders will have updated information in deciding whether or not to tender to the Fronteer Offer. The Special Committee advises Aurora shareholders to defer making any decision with respect to the Fronteer Offer until the Aurora Board of Directors formally communicates its position on the Fronteer Offer.

ABOUT AURORA

Aurora is a uranium exploration and development company active in the Central Mineral Belt of coastal Labrador – one of the world’s most promising uranium districts – and in Nunavut, Canada, where it has acquired an interest in the Baker Lake Basin property.

Aurora has no debt and approximately C$99 million in cash that is fully liquid and held with a large Canadian commercial bank.

Aurora is committed to responsible

bodes well for CXX ………

The President of Crosshair Exploration Mark Morabito says the moratorium on uranium mining imposed by the Nunatsiavut government is a deal breaker for investors. Crosshair Exploration has spent over 30 million dollars in Labrador over the last few years and employed up to 75 workers in their exploration for uranium. President Mark Morabito says by putting a freeze on the leading Labrador project – the Aurora Energy Project – the Nunatsiavut government has scared away investors. Since there’s no more money coming in, Crosshair has been forced to change their focus to a more “friendly” mining environment. Morabito says it’s unfortunate because he knows the Labrador economy benefited from their project, and things were going well. He says they created a relationship with all the workers over the years, and that everyone did a fantastic job. Before the moratorium things were going really well, and the project was held in high regard. Even though Crosshair’s major discovery is outside the moratorium area, investors say the freeze places uncertainty on all of Labrador.