LME Grade A Certification

Antofagasta PLC
04 August 2003

The following statement has been released by Antofagasta plc and is distributed
in London by Bankside Consultants Ltd on behalf of the Company.  Contact:  Keith
Irons, 020 7444 4155.


                  El Tesoro obtains LME Grade A certification


London: 4 August 2003 - Antofagasta plc announces that its 61% owned Minera El
Tesoro, located in Chile's Second Region, has obtained certification from the
London Metal Exchange (LME) to have its cathodes listed as a standard Grade A
quality commodity under the MET brand.  In order to obtain certification, El
Tesoro successfully underwent the rigorous LME procedure to confirm the quality
and consistency of its cathodes, including high standards of quality control.


El Tesoro is a standard heap-leach SX-EW operation, which is expected to produce
85,000 tonnes of cathodes in 2003.


Antofagasta is a UK-listed copper mining group with mining operations at Los
Pelambres, El Tesoro and Michilla in Chile.




Enquiries - London                                          Enquiries - Santiago

Antofagasta plc                                        Antofagasta Minerals S.A.
Tel: [phone]                                        Tel: + 562 377 5000
Philip Adeane                                                       Marcelo Awad
Email: [e-mail]                    Email: [e-mail]



Issued by Keith Irons
Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]








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