Metals Exploration Regulatory News (MTL)

22 Nov 2007 16:27

Metals Exploration PLC22 November 2007 Metals Exploration PLC 21 November 2007 ERNESTO MENDOZA, SVP CORPORATE AFFAIRS OF MTL PHILIPPINES, WINS THE "SPECIALAWARD" AT THE MINING JOURNAL'S OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2007 Metals Exploration PLC ("the Company") is pleased to announce that Mr ErnestoMendoza PhD, the Senior Vice President responsible for Community Affairs at MTLPhilippines Inc, yesterday received the prestigious "Special Award" forOutstanding Achievements at the Mines & Money Conference dinner in London,England, organised by the Mining Journal. MTL Philippines Inc is a wholly ownedsubsidiary of Metals Exploration PLC. The Mining Journal "Outstanding Achievements Awards" were presented at a blacktie dinner on Wednesday 21st November at London's Park Lane Hilton Hotel. TheAwards are designed to celebrate "exceptional achievement in the internationalmining industry in the past year" and the "Special Award" is bestowed "to anindividual who has displayed outstanding bravery, long-standing charitable workor for otherwise championing the industry". Mr Mendoza received the award for his support to the community of Runruno, NuevaViscaya, in the aftermath of Typhoon Paeng in October 2006. His wife, DrNanette Mendoza, was also commended by the Awards Committee for her contributionto the relief efforts. The citation accompanying the Award reads as follows: "Almost exactly one year ago, Typhoon Paeng struck the village of Runruno onLuzon Island in the Philippines. Following torrential rainfall, a landslide buried most of central Runruno andchanged the physical landscape overnight. Fifty-six houses were swept away, andmany people were reported missing. The death toll was subsequently given asfifteen. Roads were impassable, and the power supply failed. The senior vice president of Metals Exploration was staying at Solano, some 30km from the company's exploration camp at Runruno. On hearing of the disaster, he contacted the Provincial Red Cross to arrange forrelief to be made available, and briefed the Governor of the Province.Accompanied by his wife, a doctor, he joined the rescue teams heading for thesite. After two hours they had travelled just 15 km when they came across a majorlandslide that had washed the road into the river. The only way forward was totraverse the steep, slippery slope on foot, with a real danger of falling intothe swollen river below. The others in the convoy judged the situation as too dangerous, and returned toSolano. Our Special Award winner, and his wife, completed the 15 km journey toRunruno: it took a further 5 hours. Runruno had been devastated, and they established a makeshift medical station,and started to organise rescue efforts. Two days later, and suffering fromexhaustion, his wife was able to hand over to a municipal doctor. Our awardwinner remained on site for many days, continuing to organise relief activities." Ernesto Mendoza, Senior Vice President, Community Affairs, MTL Philippines Inccommented: "I am truly honoured to have received this award. Upon hearing of the typhoonthe first thoughts of my wife and I were to get to Runruno as quickly aspossible and help the villagers, who had been involved in the disaster. I mustthank all the other people that helped in the relief effort and who have rebuiltthe village over the past year." Jonathan Beardsworth, Chief Executive of Metals Exploration Plc, commented: "We are so proud that the leadership, courage, resourcefulness and humanitariancommitment of both Ernesto and his wife, Nanette, have been honoured by MiningJournal's prestigious and internationally recognised 'Special Award'. As aCompany we take pride in our commitment to the community, but this is onlypossible because of the commitment and individual efforts of our people on theground." ENQUIRIES: Jonathan Beardsworth Metals Exploration +44 (0) 20 7927 6690 +44(0)7747101552Adrian Hadden Collins Stewart Europe Limited +44 (0) 207 523 8350Charles Vivian Pelham Public Relations +44 (0) 20 7743 6672Klara Kaczmarek Pelham Public Relations +44 (0) 20 3159 4395 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange