Asian Mineral updates on Ban Phuc project

Asian Mineral Resources Limited provides an update on its construction and development activities at its 90% owned Ban Phuc Nickel-Copper Project in north Vietnam.

Earthworks for the processing plant construction are on schedule and the preliminary works associated with construction of the tailings storage facility have commenced. Concrete works for the plant will commence in May. Purchase orders for all long lead time items have been placed and design to incorporate the increased plant capacity up to 450,000 tonnes pa is complete. Refurbishment of the ball mill being done in Perth is progressing well and it is expected to be shipped to Ban Phuc by mid 2008, in sufficient time for the schedule of the rest of the process plant.

Development of the underground access ramp has advanced 25 metres from the lower portal. Ground conditions are good and require minimal support and the development is on target to intersect the ore body in the third quarter, 2008.

Shotcreting and stabilisation of the upper portal is well advanced and development of the upper access drive, which is only 130 metres from the ore body is expected to commence in May of this year.

Tenders for the raiseboring of ventilation rises and ore passes have been received and award is planned to be made in April in line with the underground schedule.

In-fill diamond drilling from both adits and surface rigs is underway. The information will be used to position underground development and allow definitive design of the stopes to be mined in the first 12-18 months of operation.