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February 25, 2008
BISHA Update
Nevsun Resources Ltd., (NSU-TSX/AMEX) (“Nevsun”) wishes to
provide an update to shareholders on its
Bisha project. Recent milestones achieved by
the Bisha Mining Share Company (“BMSC”), the
Company’s Eritrean subsidiary, include:
·
Bisha Mining License Issued, announced
January 8, 2008
·
Bisha Mining Agreement Signed, announced
December 12, 2007
·
Agreement for State Participation Signed,
announced October 29, 2007
The boards of Nevsun Resources and BMSC have
recently approved the decision to progress
the Bisha project through to project
construction. Senet Engineering of South
Africa was selected in 2007 as the preferred
contractor for the project following an
international bidding process, and has been
actively engaged with BMSC in the
preliminary and detailed engineering design
for the Bisha Mine since mid 2007. During
that time, BMSC’s Project Manager has been
located in Senet’s Johannesburg office
liaising with Senet staff. Senet established
an office in Asmara during Q4 2007.
A contract with Senet defining their
continuing role as the EPCM (Engineering,
Procurement, and Construction Management)
contractor for the development of the Bisha
Mine in Eritrea will be completed shortly.
The longest lead items and hence the
critical path limitation for the development
of the Bisha Mine are the SAG and ball
mills. BMSC has selected the crusher and
mill supplier for the project following an
international bidding process and is in the
process of finalizing orders.
Nevsun has received a substantial
provisional payment from ENAMCO, the
Eritrean National Mining Corporation, in
connection with the State participation
arrangements announced in October 2007, such
that Nevsun cash position at month end
January 2008 is approximately US$40 million.
The Company is well financed to continue
with the development of the Bisha Mine with
its partner ENAMCO.
BMSC has commenced actively seeking project
debt financing for the Bisha project with
the assistance of Endeavour Financial. The
Bisha feasibility study (completed Q4 2006)
shows the project to be financially robust
with low operating costs throughout the mine
life. If the mine were to commence operating
now, at current metal prices the project
would have a payback of less than one year.
The Bisha Mine development project is
currently expected to commence production
mid 2010. The Bisha feasibility was
completed by AMEC Americas in Q4 of 2006 and
provided for a 2 million tonne per year
milling facility and an open pit mine with a
minimum10 year life. The first two years of
production will focus on mining and
processing the high grade (8.0 g/t Au)
surface oxide cap (top 35 m of deposit) to
the Bisha VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide)
deposit producing approximately 450,000 oz
of gold and 750,000 oz of silver each year.
The following three years will focus on
processing the 4.4% copper supergene massive
sulphides which lie immediately below the
oxide cap (next 30m of the deposit) and the
rest of the mine life will centre on
processing the primary massive sulphides
(7.2 % Zn, 1.1% Cu, 0.76 g/t Au and 54.0 g/t
Ag).
The Company looks forward to progressing the
Bisha Project with the full support and
contribution of the Eritrean Government.
Forward
Looking Statements: The above contains
forward-looking statements concerning the
Bisha Project, anticipated financing and
financial health, government support and
other events or conditions that may occur in
the future. Forward-looking statements are
frequently, but not always, identified by
words such as “expects,” “anticipates,”
“believes,” “intends,” “estimates,”
“potential,” “possible” and similar
expressions, or statements that events,
conditions or results “will,” “may,” “could”
or “should” occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements are statements
about the future and are inherently
uncertain, and actual achievements of the
Company or other future events or conditions
may differ materially from those reflected
in the forward-looking statements due to a
variety of risks, uncertainties and other
factors. The Company’s forward-looking
statements are based on the beliefs,
expectations and opinions of management on
the date the statements are made and the
Company assumes no obligation to update such
forward-looking statements in the future.
For the reasons set forth above, investors
should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements.
| NEVSUN RESOURCES LTD.
“John A. Clarke”
Dr.
John A. Clarke
President & Chief Executive Officer
Nsu08-02.doc |
For further
information, Contact:
Judy Baker (416) 786-7860 or
Nevsun (604)623-4700 or 888-600-2200
e-mail:
nevsuninfo@nevsun.com
Website:
www.nevsun.com |
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