Bisha - Drilling Commences

Bisha - Drilling Commences

February 3, 2005

Nevsun Resources Ltd (NSU: TSX and AMEX) have recommenced drilling at their Bisha Property in Eritrea. Two diamond drills are operational and the exploration camp is fully manned. A minimum of 20,000 meters of drilling is planned at Bisha and its neighboring properties.

One drill is focused on finishing a limited amount of infill drilling at Bisha Main while the second drill has started to define the previously discovered massive sulphide mineralization at the Northwest Zone. Exploration targets, including Harena, are to be drill tested. Geotechnical work and metallurgical sampling of the Bisha Main deposit will also take place during this work program.

Core samples will be shipped out on a weekly basis and initial assay results are expected within 6 weeks.

The Company will mobilize a geophysical crew in April in order to carry out additional survey work in the Bisha and Okreb areas. Additional gravity work is being contemplated.

AMEC, an international engineering services company, will conduct the feasibility study for the Bisha Main deposit. An engineering team will visit the property in March and the feasibility study is currently scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2006.

John Clarke, President of Nevsun stated that “we are very happy to be back to work and the speed with which we have been able to mobilize staff and begin drilling displays the great interest that the Bisha project holds within the mining industry and the support for the project in Eritrea”.

CAUTIONARY NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.