Forécariah Mining Permit Approval

17 September 2012

Bellzone Mining plc

Forécariah Mining Permit Approval

Bellzone Mining plc (AIM:BZM) ("Bellzone" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing of the Decree (A/2012/102/PRG/SCG) for the Forécariah Mining Permit ("Mining Permit") by The President of the Republic of Guinea, Alpha Condé, on 4 September 2012.

The Mining Permit covers an area of 319km2 on which the mining operation at Yomboyeli managed by Forecariah Guinea Mining SA ("FGMSA") is located. FGMSA is the Guinea subsidiary of Forecariah Holdings Pte Ltd ("FHPL"), the incorporated joint venture between Bellzone and China International Fund Limited ("CIF").

The Mining Permit is held by Guinea Development Corporation Mining and Oil and Gas ("GDC"), a subsidiary of CIF. As previously announced, in terms of the definitive agreement and the FHPL shareholder agreement entered into between CIF and Bellzone, GDC is required to transfer the Mining Permit to FGMSA.

The permit is valid for 15 years with further extensions possible.

Glenn Baldwin, CEO, said: "The granting of the Mining Permit for the Forécariah Joint Venture operations follows on from the letter of authorisation received from the Minister for Mines on 22 May 2012 and concludes the permitting process, allowing the operations to move forward with certainty towards first export." 

Enquiries:

Bellzone Mining plc

Terry Larkan +44 (0) 1534 834 699

Graham Fyfe +61 (0) 8 9420 8900

Canaccord Genuity Limited

Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker to Bellzone +44 (0)20 7523 8000

Andrew Chubb/Tarica Mpinga

Renaissance Capital Limited

Joint Broker to Bellzone +44 (0)20 7367 7777

Rob Edwards

Tavistock (UK)

Jos Simson/Mike Bartlett +44 (0)20 7920 3150 / +44 (0)7899 870 450

About Bellzone Mining Plc

Bellzone Mining plc is an exploration and resource development company with iron ore and nickel/copper permits in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. Kalia Mine Project is the Company's flagship project with a resource of 6.16bt of magnetite. The Forécariah iron ore mine commenced production in May 2012 and is a joint venture between Bellzone (50%) and China International Fund Limited (50%).

www.bellzone.com