America West Resources Names John E. Durbin as New Chief Financial Officer.

Former ConocoPhillips Assistant Treasurer Joins the Executive Team

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- America West Resources, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AWSR), a domestic coal producer with mining operations in Central Utah, today announced the appointment of John E. Durbin as the Company's new Chief Financial Officer. Durbin replaces Brian Rodriguez, who will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

Durbin brings to America West a wealth of financial experience earned over three decades serving leading international organizations, including Conoco, ConocoPhilips and The DuPont Company. Fluent in French, German and Portuguese, he has proven to be a hands-on leader who is highly skilled in building high performance teams and maximizing operational efficiencies across large and growing enterprises.

"We are delighted to welcome John Durbin to our team," said Dan Baker, America West CEO. "With his broad base of expertise and impressive track record in the energy sector, there is no doubt he will be a significant contributor to the success of our Company."

From 1979 through 2005, Durbin progressed through a career with Conoco Inc., and, subsequently, ConocoPhillips, serving in a succession of finance and treasury roles for the Company and with several of its domestic and international subsidiaries and joint ventures. When Conoco elected to enter the power generation and marketing segment in 1997, Durbin was appointed Vice President, Finance at Conoco Global Power Inc. In 1999, he was elected Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AEP-Conoco Energy Management, the new power marketing joint venture among American Electric Power, The DuPont Company and Conoco Inc. Following the spin-off of Conoco by DuPont, and Conoco's subsequent merger with Phillips Petroleum Company to form ConocoPhillips, Durbin was elected as Assistant Treasurer to create, implement and manage a new Enterprise Risk Management function.

After opting for early retirement from ConocoPhillips in 2005, Durbin founded JED Consulting LLC, an international, financial management consulting firm based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Miami, Florida. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Montana State University and an MBA in International Financial Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

"Since day one, I have been very impressed with the complementary strengths and talents of America West Resources' management team, the depth and quality of its employees and its methodical growth strategy," commented Durbin. "I feel privileged to be invited to play such a vital role in the Company's future, particularly in view of its aggressive expansion plans and promising outlook."

Baker also acknowledged Rodriguez for his many contributions to the Company. "Serving as our transitional CFO, Brian has been instrumental in helping us raise significant capital and bringing our Hidden Splendor subsidiary out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008. Additionally, we appreciate his efforts in recruiting a blue chip executive of John Durbin's status to join America West. We are very pleased that Brian has agreed to stay on as a member of our board."

About America West Resources, Inc.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, America West Resources, Inc. is an established domestic coal producer focused on the mining of compliant (low-sulfur) coal and its sale primarily to U.S. utility companies for use in generating electricity. Since 2003, the Company has extracted over 1.4 million tons of coal from its owned and operated Horizon Coal Mine based in Central Utah. For more information, please visit http://www.americacoal.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Please refer to the Company's Form 10-KSB and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for additional information regarding risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed from time to time in such SEC reports. Copies of these filings are available through the SEC's electronic data gathering analysis and retrieval system (EDGAR) at http://www.sec.gov/.

  FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
  ELITE FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
  Dodi B. Handy, President & CEO
  For Media Inquiries: Tiffany Korkis or John Morrison, Managing Directors
  of Elite Media Group
  407-585-1080 or via email at [e-mail]

CONTACT: Tiffany Korkis or John Morrison, Managing Directors of Elite Media Group, [phone], or via email at [e-mail]

Web Site: http://www.americacoal.com/