Directorate Change

Antofagasta PLC
29 September 2006


                                 Antofagasta plc


            RETIREMENT OF PHILIP ADEANE AS A NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
          APPOINTMENT OF WILLIAM M. HAYES AS A NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


London: 29 September 2006:- Antofagasta plc ('Antofagasta') announces that
Philip Adeane has retired as a Director. Mr. Adeane was Managing Director of
Antofagasta from 1982 to 2005 and has since served as a Non-Executive Director.
Mr. Adeane will continue to act as a senior advisor to the Board following his
retirement.

Antofagasta also announces that William M. Hayes has today been appointed an
independent Non-Executive Director.

Mr. Hayes was previously a senior executive with Placer Dome Inc. from 1988 to
2006. He was Executive Vice President of Project Development and Corporate
Relations from 2004 to 2006, where he had responsibility for a range of capital
projects in North America, Latin America and Africa. Previously, he was
Executive Vice President of Placer Dome Inc. for United States and Latin America
from 2000. Mr. Hayes is a former president of the Consejo Minero, an industry
body representing the 17 largest international mining companies operating in
Chile. Mr. Hayes, aged 61, is a United States citizen.

Jean-Paul Luksic, Chairman of Antofagasta, stated, 'On behalf of the Board, I
would like to thank Philip Adeane for his enormous contribution to Antofagasta
over a very long period of time. He has played a key role in the development of
the Group and its transformation into a major copper producer and a constituent
of the FTSE-100. We would also like to welcome William Hayes onto the Board. He
has extensive knowledge and experience of the mining industry both in Chile and
globally, which will benefit Antofagasta as it continues to enhance its overall
growth profile, both by developing its existing assets and by continuing to seek
new opportunities.'

There are no disclosures under Listing Rule 9.6.13(1) to (6) in respect of Mr
Hayes.


Enquiries:

Desmond R. O'Conor
Antofagasta plc
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]


Keith Irons
Bankside Consultants
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]






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