Emgold provides corporate update

TSX Venture Exchange Symbol: EMR
SEC 12g3-2(b): 82-3003 

VANCOUVER, Aug. 11 /CNW/ - Emgold Mining Corporation (EMR:TSX-V)
("Emgold") is pleased to provide the following corporate update on its
operations.
Emgold filed its 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the
United States on June 30, 2005, and will become effective on August 30, 2005.
Emgold's 20-F is available on Edgar (www.edgar.com).

Idaho-Maryland Mine Project
---------------------------
At the City Council meeting held on July 26, 2005, Grass Valley City
Council voted unanimously to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Master
Environmental Assessment (MEA)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the
Company's Idaho-Maryland Mine Project. This is a major step in the process
leading toward the issuance of a Conditional Mine Use Permit for the project,
and Emgold is very pleased at this indication of support from both Council and
the general public in of the City of Grass Valley ("City"). At the same
meeting, the Council also voted unanimously to engage mining consultant
Raymond Krauss to act as liaison between Emgold and the City on technical
mining issues and Pacific Municipal Consultants to provide coordination
assistance to City staff on the project.
Staff at the Idaho-Maryland Mine have been reviewing and updating
historical geological mapping of the property. This information will be used
for computer modelling and future underground exploration and development in
anticipation of receipt of a Conditional Mine Use Permit, expected to be
received in approximately 18 to 24 months.
On June 10, 2005, Emgold signed a 12-month Exploration Drilling Lease to
explore an area that provides favourable access to the shallow convergence of
the "L" Fault/Dana-Mobile gold quartz veins, where they may merge with at
least two other veins and the historical million ounce Idaho No. 1 Vein.
Emgold's next phase of surface drilling may include the Dana area, as well as
some geo-technical drilling in the South Idaho area. The South Idaho is
expected to involve up to 5,000 feet of diamond core drilling and the Dana
target could require 3,000 feet of diamond core drilling.

Appointments
------------
Effective July 1, 2005, Mr. Robert Pease was appointed Chief Geologist of
the Idaho-Maryland Project. Mr. Pease has worked with Emgold for one year,
previously serving as Senior Geologist, during which time he supervised
geotechnical core drilling and ceramics sampling, conducted computer modeling,
assisted with gold exploration, and initiated a ceramics geology program.
Mr. Pease is a Registered Geologist in California with B.S. and M.S. degrees
in Geology from the University of Nevada, Reno Nevada. He has over 25 years of
diversified experience in mineral development and engineering geology in the
mining and construction industries. Mr. Pease has an extensive background in
Mother Lode, Sierra Nevada, and Basin-Range geology applied to industrial
minerals and gold, naturally occurring asbestos, surface and underground
geologic mapping, drilling and sampling in difficult conditions, and
engineering geology. He has also conducted market research analyses of
industrial minerals.
Emgold is currently searching for a Vice President of Operations/Project
Manager for the Idaho-Maryland Project.

Golden Bear Ceramics
--------------------
Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Golden Bear Ceramics Company, Emgold
is evaluating the business opportunity for processing waste and naturally
occurring materials from the Idaho-Maryland Mine to produce high quality
ceramic building materials for commercial markets using the Ceramext(TM)
Process. Emgold has selected CAVI International in partnership with Strategic
Analysis Inc. to conduct a market study of various ceramics products in the
North American and European markets such as floor and roofing tiles, siding,
brick, construction materials and other industrial and commercial products.
The objective of the market study, expected to be completed by Q4 of 2005, is
to determine which of the marketable products is optimal for Golden Bear
Ceramics to produce given its projected throughput.
A Lex Kiln to be used for research, development and for the demonstration
of the Ceramext(TM) process and for testing other conventional tile production
methods was installed at the Golden Bear Ceramics demonstration plant in Grass
Valley, California. The kiln is planned to be commissioned in late August. The
studies of and refinements to the manufacturing process are proceeding on
schedule.
For more information about Emgold, the Idaho-Maryland Project and the
Ceramext(TM) Process and the Stewart, Rozan and Jazz Properties in British
Columbia, please visit www.emgold.com.

                      William J. Witte, P.Eng.
                President and Chief Executive Officer

 No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information
                   contained in this news release.