VANCOUVER,
BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 26, 2010) - First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum"
or the "Company") (TSX:FM)(LSE:FQM)
today reported that it has restarted the Bwana Mkubwa copper SX/EW plant in
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. The Company continues to seek
additional sources of economically suitable feed for the plant.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of First Quantum
Minerals Ltd.
G. Clive Newall, President
For further
information visit our web site at www.first-quantum.com.
Certain
information contained in this news release constitutes "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 and forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities
legislation. Such forward-looking statements or information, including but not
limited to those with respect to the prices of gold, copper, cobalt and
sulphuric acid, estimated future production, estimated costs of future
production, the Company's hedging policy and permitting time lines, involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the
actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such factors
include, among others, the actual prices of copper, gold, cobalt and sulphuric
acid, the factual results of current exploration, development and mining
activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as
well as those factors disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to
time with the Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario Securities Commissions,
the Autorite des marches financiers in Quebec, the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission and the London Stock Exchange.
12g3-2b-82-4461
Listed in Standard and Poor's