Bwana Mkubwa

First Quantum Minerals announced it has restarted the Bwana Mkubwa copper SX/EW plant, Zambia. The plant will process the stockpiled ore from the depleted Lonshi open pit mine. Production is expected to average approximately 800 tonnes of copper cathode per month until the end of 2010. First Quantum Minerals continues to seek additional sources of economically suitable feed for the plant.

Operations were suspended at Bwana and the plant placed on care andmaintenance until the Lonshi ore is available or alternative feed sources are obtained.

The DRC provincial government of Katanga continued to disallow any ore shipments from the Lonshi mine to cross the border into Zambia. This required the Bwana treatment plant to process low grade ore purchased from external vendors and resulted in low copper production and increased average cash unit (C1) and total (C3) costs of production. Meanwhile, mining operations continued at the Lonshi mine resulting in a stockpile of approximately 76,000 tonnes of ore at an average ore grade of approximately 5.8% at quarter end. The company believes it has satisfied all requirements to allow the shipment of ore to Bwana from Lonshi. .