Competition Commission

Petra Diamonds Ld 19 February 2008 19 February 2008 AIM: PDL Petra Diamonds Limited Cullinan Diamond Mine - Competition Commission Approval Petra Diamonds Limited ('Petra') announces that the South African Competition Commission has approved the acquisition of the Cullinan Diamond Mine by the Petra Diamonds Cullinan Consortium ('PDCC') from De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited ('De Beers'). On 22 November 2007 Petra, as a member of the PDCC, entered into an agreement with De Beers to acquire Cullinan. It was a condition of the acquisition that Competition Commission Authority approval be granted. Completion of the acquisition of Cullinan is now conditional upon the following remaining conditions: (i) Ministerial consent to the cession to PDCC of the new order mining right in respect of Cullinan; (ii) the DME consenting to the cession, transfer and delegation of the rehabilitation obligations and liabilities in respect of Cullinan from De Beers to PDCC; and (iii) regulatory and other approvals as may be required. As stated within our announcement of 22 November, it is expected that the remaining conditions will be met between May and July 2008. A further announcement will follow in due course, which will include a resource statement for Cullinan, in accordance with the AIM Guidance for Mining companies, when the new order mining right is transferred to PDCC. Ends For further information, please contact: Cathy Malins Tel: +44 (0) 20 7493 7671 Petra Diamonds, London Louise Goodeve / Justine Howarth Tel: +44 (0) 20 7851 7480 Parkgreen Communications, London Adrian Hadden / Piers Coombs Tel: +44 (0) 20 7523 8000 Collins Stewart, London www.petradiamonds.com About Petra Diamonds Petra Diamonds is a pan-African diamond mining group with a balanced portfolio combining major producing mines, world class exploration assets and a cutting and polishing business. With operations in South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Sierra Leone, Petra's objective remains to develop its stature as a leading diamond producer in all of the countries in which it operates. In South Africa, Petra has four producing mines and recently reached agreements to acquire a further two mines from De Beers (Cullinan and Kimberley Underground). The Company is on track to increase its annual production from 180,000 carats in the year to June 2007 to over 400,000 carats in the year to June 2009 and is targeting annual production of over 1 million carats thereafter. Complementing the Group's production is an exploration and development portfolio spread across some of the world's most prospective diamond fields. In Angola, Petra is developing its world class Alto Cuilo and neighbouring Luangue projects in two separate joint ventures with BHP Billiton. In Botswana, Petra has established the largest exploration holding in the country, where it believes that modern exploration techniques will hold the key to the discovery of new, major kimberlites. In Sierra Leone, Petra is developing a fissure operation and test work to date indicates the potential for economic operations. The Petra group now employs some 3,000 people in Africa and over the last 10 years, the Company has developed a range of social initiatives which continue to make a meaningful impact upon the lives of employees and surrounding communities. Petra's focus remains upon sustainable development, via educational programmes and skills transfer, to ensure a broad based approach with a lasting legacy, and all operations are carried out with the highest regard for the environment according to best practice. For further information, please visit www.petradiamonds.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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