Kopane drilling programme in Lesotho

Kopane announces successful completion of the first two holes of the Liqhobong wide-diameter drilling programme initiated this year on the Main Pipe at the Liqhobong Mine, Lesotho. This programme, in conjunction with further bulk sampling and core drilling, is designed to upgrade the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) Resource Statement and forms a major element of the Main Pipe Definitive Feasibility Study, which Kopane is planning to complete and announce in the final quarter of 2008.

In February 2008, a new Prakla RB40 drill rig was mobilised to the mine, from Germany, to conduct the wide-diameter drilling programme (the Programme). The Programme is being managed by Bauer Technologies South Africa under the supervision of ACA Howe International (Howe). Howe is responsible for all elements of the Programme supervision through to the calculating of the upgraded Resource Statement.

The Programme comprises a minimum of 23 holes of 17.5″ diameter to a target depth of 150 metres and a further four holes, of similar diameter, to a depth of 250 metres. All four facies of kimberlite, namely K2, K4, K5 and K6, will be sampled by the Programme. Drilling of kimberlite commenced at the end of February and two holes, WWD-07 and WWD-03, together totalling 400 metres, have now been successfully completed.

The Programme is expected to generate 90 kimberlite samples, representing 1,800 tonnes of kimberlite. These samples will be treated through a 5 tonnes per hour Dense Media Separation plant which has been purpose built for the Programme and is expected to be delivered to site in the next few weeks. Results from the sampling will be forthcoming soon after commissioning the plant. The total Programme is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of calendar 2008.

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