African Diamonds PLC
03 April 2008
3rd April 2008
AK6 UPDATE
African Diamonds plc, the AIM and Botswana listed diamond explorer (AIM: AFD),
is pleased to announce that Boteti Exploration (Pty) Ltd., in which it has a
28.38 per cent interest, has received a letter from the Ministry of Minerals,
Energy and Water Resources of the Government of the Republic of Botswana stating
that the Mining Licence Application for AK6 meets the requirements of section 51
of the Mines and Minerals Act to proceed with negotiations regarding the issue
of the Mining Licence.
Further, the government has outlined conditions on which it would like to award
the Mining Licence. The shareholders of Boteti anticipate that the final
negotiations will be concluded with sufficient time to enable AK6 to be in
production by the end of 2009.
This release has been approved by Alex van Zyl, Technical Director African
Diamonds. Alex van Zyl (B.Sc. Stellenbosch, B.Sc. Hons. Pretoria) spent a long
career in Anglo American in the diamond division, ending up 1990 to 1997 with
worldwide responsibility for diamond exploration and evaluation. He was a
consultant to De Beers from 1997 to 2002.
John Teeling, Chairman, said
'We are delighted with this important step forward in the process of the issuing
of the AK6 Mining Licence. We believe that we have the full backing of De Beers
and the Government of Botswana to move this world class project towards
production and look forward to concluding negotiations as soon as is possible'
Further information:
African Diamonds plc
John Teeling Tel: +353 1 8332833
Alex van Zyl Tel: +27 83 261 2956
James AH Campbell Tel: +27 83 457 3724
RBC Capital Markets
Andrew Smith Tel: +44 20 7029 7882
Martin Eales Tel: +44 20 7029 7881
College Hill
Paddy Blewer Tel: +44 20 7457 2020
Nick Elwes Tel +44 20 7457
2020
www.afdiamonds.com
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