Oxus Gold Plc Regulatory News (OXS)

25 Feb 2005 07:00

Oxus Gold PLC25 February 2005 news release For immediate release: 0700, 25 February 2005 Oxus Gold plc Jerooy licence update LONDON, 25 February 2005 - Oxus Gold plc ('Oxus' or 'the Company') is pleased to confirm that it has satisfied the various conditions set out by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in order for the mining licence for the Jerooy gold project to be reinstated. The Company therefore expects to be in a position to sign a new licence agreement in the near future. The licence was purportedly annulled last summer following the Kyrgyz Government's concerns over the ability of Oxus to fund the development of the project and the detailed technical status of the project. The Company can confirm that these concerns have been addressed to the satisfaction of the relevant licensing authorities, who have recommended to the Government that the licence be reinstated. Bill Trew, CEO of Oxus said "We are pleased with the constructive manner in which these discussions have taken place to date and we remain committed to bringing Jerooy into production in the fastest possible time. I can also confirm that construction has continued during these discussions so as not to delay the commissioning of the mine." Oxus has a holding of 66.7 per cent in Jerooy through Norox Mining Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, with the remaining 33.3 per cent held by Kyrgyzaltyn, a Joint Stock Company owned by the Kyrgyz government. Jerooy is situated about 300 kilometres by road from Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital city. Jerooy has a total resource of 3.45 million ounces and contains a mineable reserve of 2.4 million ounces at 7.5 grammes per tonne. Production is planned at a rate of 1 million tonnes of ore per annum. The mine will produce some 180,000 ounces of gold per annum, of which 120,000 ounces will be attributable to Oxus. The orebody will be mined both by open pit and underground methods. Ends For further information, please contact: Bill Trew, CEO Oxus Gold, +44 (0)20 7907 2000 Richard Wilkins, Director and Secretary +44 (0)20 7907 2000 Keith Irons, Bankside Consultants +44 (0)20 7444 4155 / 07885 356 639 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange