Acquisition(s)

25 April 2005

                              BISICHI MINING PLC                               

    Joint venture acquires 12 million tonnes of new open cast coal reserves    

Bisichi Mining PLC ('Bisichi Mining'), the LSE listed mining investment
company, announces that on 20 April 2005 it formed Ezimbokodweni Mining (Pty)
Limited ('Ezimbokodweni'), a South African registered joint venture company
with Endulwini Resources (Pty) Limited ('Endulwini'), Bisichi Mining's existing
partner in Black Wattle Colliery (Pty) Ltd ('Black Wattle') and that on 21
April 2005 Ezimbokodweni signed an agreement with Ingwe Collieries (Pty)
Limited ('Ingwe'), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BHP Billiton, for the purchase
of the Pegasus Coal Reserve ('Pegasus'), an approximately 12 million tonne
reserve located in the Witbank coalfield of Mpumalanga, South Africa.

The acquisition of Pegasus by Ezimbokodweni, a black empowered company owned
51% by Endulwini and 49% by Bisichi Mining, is subject, inter alia, to the
finalisation of a long term coal supply agreement between Ezimbokodweni and
Ingwe by 31st May 2005 and the conversion of the existing old order prospecting
rights to new order prospecting rights under the South African Minerals and
Petroleum Resources Development Act 2002 by 30th April 2006. Subject to the
receipt of these commercial and regulatory approvals, Ezimbokodweni expects to
commence mining at Pegasus in mid-2007.

An initial deposit of approximately ZAR 5 million will be paid by Ezimbokodweni
to Ingwe on the completion of the coal supply agreement and a further
approximately ZAR 46 million will be paid to Ingwe on the conversion of the
prospecting rights.

Commenting on the new joint venture and the acquisition of Pegasus, Bisichi
Mining Chairman Michael Heller said:

'The Pegasus Reserve contains high quality low sulphur coal and is ideal for
open-cast production, a low-cost, high-yield mining method. This is a
significant transaction because it shows that the business model we have
established at Black Wattle can be replicated. With our group's successful
mining track record, financial reputation, proven management skills,
empowerment credentials and the strong long-term relationships we have
established in South Africa, we are beginning to see strong opportunities for
growth; Ezimbokodweni and Pegasus are excellent examples of that.'

                                      END                                      

For further information, please call:

Andrew Heller/Tom Kearney, Bisichi Mining 020 7415 5000

Christopher Joll, MJ2 020 7491 7776