Minco PLC Regulatory News (MIO)

13, May, 2010

Minco PLC

·; XTIERRA STARTS OXIDE ORE PILOT PLANT TESTS AT BILBAO

Dublin, May 13, 2010 - Minco plc (AIM - "MIO"), the Irish exploration and development company reports that its Toronto Venture Exchange listed subsidiary, Xtierra Inc. (TSXV-XAG), has reported that the pilot plant test work program proposed for the near surface oxide ore at Bilbao has commenced. The protocol for the test work was recently established with the assistance of Xtierra's independent metallurgical consulting team.

Laboratory test work results on the Oxide Ores, as reported in January, 2010, were positive and indicate a practical and economic solution to the processing and metal recovery for the near-surface oxide resources at Bilbao. Replicating these results in a pilot plant will indicate that similar results can be expected in a full-scale industrial application.

The pilot plant test work program and schedule comprises five component parts: (1) collection of a representative bulk sample of approximately 20 tonnes is currently underway from two existing underground levels which are within the oxide ore wireframe. Once crushed and sampled, 4 representative composites of 5 tonnes each will be established; (2) a 0.5 tonne/hour pilot plant comprised of a crusher, ball mill, classifier, flotation cells and related equipment has been sourced and will be available to the Company over the next two weeks; (3) a Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separator (WHIMS) has been sourced and will be available in approximately 4-6 weeks time; (4) the crusher, ball mill and WHIMS will be set up in close proximity to the Bilbao project site. The four, 5 tonne sample composites will be batch processed producing approximately four, 3 tonne non-magnetic concentrates containing the payable metals. The magnetic material, containing a high percentage of iron oxide, will be kept on site and marketing of this reject material to the cement industry will follow; (5) the non-magnetic material will be transported to the Institute of Metallurgy at the University of San Luis Potosi where the acid leach, flotation and cyanidation processes will take place at a rate of 20 kg/hr, 24 hr/day over a 15 day period. The tanks, agitators, pumps and electric controls for the leach process are currently being fabricated and are scheduled to be installed at the Institute of Metallurgy by the beginning of June.

The oxide ore pilot plant test work and related reports are scheduled to be completed in the third quarter 2010. Metallurgical test work on the transition (mixed oxide and sulphide) ore as well as on the sulphide ore is currently in progress. Results and related reports on this work are expected in June 2010.

Comment

Terence McKillen, CEO of Xtierra said, "Completion of the pilot plant test work on the near surface oxide ores at Bilbao will be an important milestone for the project. Confirmation of metal recoveries in a larger-scale process plant replicating continuity of the flow sheet process will establish the recoveries of the various metals that can be achieved in a commercial process." Mr. McKillen added, "The metallurgical test work is an important final step in the completion of the Bilbao feasibility study and will enable final economic studies on the project to be completed."

Qualified Person

The above information has been reviewed and verified by Mr. Terence N McKillen, B.A. (MOD), M.A., M.Sc., P.Geo, Chief Executive Officer. Mr. McKillen is the Qualified Person for the purposes of the AIM Guidance Note on Mining, Oil and Gas Companies dated March 2006. Mr. McKillen is a graduate in Natural Sciences (Geology) from Trinity College Dublin and holds a Master of Science degree in Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology from the University of Leicester. He has 40 years of exploration experience in Ireland and internationally.

About Minco

Minco Plc is an AIM quoted base metals exploration and development company engaged in zinc exploration on the Pallas Green property in Ireland in a joint venture with Xstrata Zinc and investments in zinc-silver projects in Mexico through its 39.7% shareholding in Xtierra Inc. listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (Toronto) under the symbol "XAG".