$100m Gold Mine Power Contracts

Rolls-Royce PLC
10 April 2000


ROLLS-ROYCE WINS $100M GOLD MINE POWER CONTRACTS


Rolls-Royce has won contracts worth $100 million to provide power for two
African gold mines, using new Allen 5000 series diesel generating sets.
 
Randgold Resources of Jersey has awarded Rolls-Royce Power Ventures Limited
(RRPV), the independent power project arm of Rolls-Royce plc, contracts to
build and operate two diesel power stations.  

The projects, for Randgold's Morila and Syama gold mines in Mali, will use
seven Rolls-Royce Allen 5012 diesel generating sets which have been specially
developed for the power industry. The contracts are worth $100 million over a
10 year period.  Last year Rolls-Royce won a similar size contract with
Ashanti Goldfields in Tanzania.  

William R. Kelly, RRPV's Chief Executive Officer, said: 'These two contracts
represent a leap forward for RRPV's business in Africa and for the Allen 5000
series engines.'

Peter Dobbs, Director - Power Generation for Rolls-Royce, said: 'These
contracts demonstrate that the Allen 5000 can offer power generation solutions
in harsh environments.'    

A spokesman for Randgold Resources said: 'These projects will ensure we have a
highly reliable plant, critical to the success of our operations, through a
well defined and cost effective power contract.'

At Syama the Allen 5012 diesels will supplement an existing 20MW generation
plant which RRPV will also manage on behalf of the mine. First operation at
Syama, using two of the seven engines, is due to start later this month.  At
Morila, the power plant will be built when the new mine is constructed. 

The 5012 engine, which is able to run on both distillate and heavy fuels,
generates more than 500kWe per cylinder and can achieve fuel consumption of
less than 180g/kWh. Like the rest of the 5000 series, the 5012 has digital
fuel injection which monitors combustion to ensure peak operating performance
and also enables operators to achieve reduced emissions to meet international
legislation.  

The Allen 5000 series is the latest addition to the Rolls-Royce diesel engine
portfolio which ranges from 0.5MW to 15MW. 

For further information please contact:

Martin Nield
Head of Communications, Defence and Energy
Rolls-Royce plc
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]