Board Appointment

Antofagasta plc

For immediate release

Cleveland House Telephone: + 44 20 7808 0988

33 King Street Fax + 44 20 7930 7578

London SW1Y 6RJ [email protected]

United Kingdom

Appointment of Mr. De Sousa-Oliveira as an Independent Non-Executive Director

London, 28 October 2011

Antofagasta plc ("Antofagasta") announces that Mr. Manuel Lino Silva De Sousa-Oliveira (Ollie De Sousa-Oliveira) has today been appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director.

He is a director of Ferrous Resources Limited and has held various senior executive positions within the Anglo American group and the De Beers group in operational, strategic and corporate finance roles, culminating in a six year period as Executive Director - Corporate Finance and Head of Strategy and Business Development of De Beers S.A., and also CEO of De Beers Russia and a director of De Beers Centenary AG.

Mr. De Sousa-Oliveira is aged 59, is based in London and is a Portuguese citizen.

Mr. Jean-Paul Luksic, Chairman of Antofagasta, stated, "On behalf of the Board, we are delighted that Ollie has accepted our invitation to join the Board as a Non-Executive Director. Ollie has an extensive knowledge of the mining and natural resources sectors around the world. This, we feel, will greatly benefit Antofagasta as it continues to enhance its overall growth profile".

Save as disclosed above, there are no disclosures under Listing Rule 9.6.13(1) to (6) in respect of Mr. De Sousa-Oliveira.