FOR:  NAUTILUS MINERALS INC.

TSX, AIM SYMBOL:  NUS

January 5, 2010

Nautilus Minerals Inc.: Solwara 1 Environmental Permit Granted

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 5, 2010) - Nautilus Minerals Inc. (TSX:NUS)(AIM:NUS) (the
"Company" or "Nautilus") announces that the final Environmental Permit for the development of the
Solwara 1 Project was received on December 29th 2009 from the Department of Environment and
Conservation (DEC) of Papua New Guinea for a term of 25 years, expiring in 2035. The Environmental
Permit in Principle was issued in September 2009, as announced previously.

CEO Steve Rogers commented, "The Environmental Permit is the culmination of many years of work by
Nautilus and the DEC and paves the way for processing of the Company's Mining Lease Application. The
project team is working with the Government of PNG to complete the final stages of this process."

Regional Joint Venture

Nautilus continues advanced discussions with several parties in connection with a Regional Joint
Venture covering some of Nautilus' tenements in the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea.

About Nautilus Minerals Inc.

Nautilus is the first company to commercially explore the ocean floor for gold and copper seafloor
massive sulphide deposits and is currently developing its first project. The Company's main focus is
the Solwara 1 Project, which is located in the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea in the western
Pacific Ocean. Nautilus is listed on the TSX and on AIM, and has among its largest shareholders two of
the world's leading international resource companies, Anglo American (11.1%) and Teck Resources
(6.8%). Metalloinvest, one of the largest and fastest growing mining and metallurgical holding
companies in Russia, beneficially owns 21.0% of its shares through Gazmetall Holding (Cypress)
Limited.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Nautilus Minerals Inc. (Toronto)
Investor Relations
+1 (416) 551 1100
investor@nautilusminerals.com
www.nautilusminerals.com

OR

Nautilus Minerals Inc.
Australian Project Office
+61 (7) 3318 5555

OR

Numis Securities Limited
John Harrison
Nominated adviser
+ 44(0) 20 7260 1000

OR

Numis Securities Limited
James Black
Corporate broking
+ 44(0) 20 7260 1000

Neither the TSX nor the London Stock Exchange accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this press release.

Nautilus Minerals Inc.