Antofagasta Regulatory News (ANTO)

Antofagasta plc

APPOINTMENT OF MR. HUGO DRYLAND AS A NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

London: 20 January 2011:- Antofagasta plc ("Antofagasta") announces that Mr. Hugo Dryland has today been appointed a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

Mr. Dryland is a Senior Managing Director at Rothschild based in Washington DC and is the Global Head of Rothschild's investment banking activities in the mining and metals sector. He has Masters Degrees in Business and Comparative Law from the University of Warwick (UK) and the George Washington University (US) respectively.

Prior to joining Rothschild in 1986 he practised law in the United States specialising in corporate M&A joint ventures, and financing areas in the natural resources and infrastructure sectors. Before this period he worked in the Energy Division of the World Bank.

Mr. Dryland is aged 55 and is a citizen of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Jean-Paul Luksic, Chairman of Antofagasta, stated, "On behalf of the Board, we are delighted that Hugo has accepted our invitation to join our Board as a Non-Executive Director. We have worked extensively with Hugo over the last 15 years and he has a very detailed understanding of our business, as well as extensive knowledge of the mining industry both in Latin America and across the globe. This, we feel, will greatly benefit Antofagasta as it continues to enhance its overall growth profile."

For the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code, Mr Dryland is not considered by the Board to be independent. There are no disclosures under Listing Rule 9.6.13(1) to (6) in respect of Mr Dryland.

Enquiries:

Desmond R. O'Conor

Tel: +44 207 808 0988

doconor@antofagasta.co.uk

Simon Rothschild

Bankside Consultants

Tel: +44 207 367 8871

simon.rothschild@bankside.com