Focus Minerals Chairman Assumes Executive Role to Assist in Transition to Production

Focus Minerals Ltd (ASX: FML) has further enhanced the Company's rapid transition towards the near-term production of both nickel and gold with the announcement today that Chairman Mr Don Taig will assume executive duties on behalf of the Company.

Mr Taig's expanded role will encompass corporate development and investor relations, enabling Focus Minerals to fully utilise the substantial project development experience of Managing Director, Mr Peter Williams.

The re-allocation of senior management roles will enable Mr Williams to focus entirely on the rapid advancement towards production of both the Company's wholly-owned Nepean Nickel Project and the Coolgardie Gold Project, held in the 50:50 Redemption Joint Venture (RJV) with Canadian-based Committee Bay Resources Ltd.

Focus is completing feasibility work targeting the commencement of nickel mining at Nepean in 2008.

In addition, as an equal partner in the RJV, the Company is advancing resource and infrastructure development work at the Coolgardie Gold Project, in preparation for the commencement of mining in December 2007.

It is anticipated that first ore from the Coolgardie Gold Project will be mined from the high-grade Perseverance deposit, for which decline development work is underway. The RJV has secured priority toll treatment for up to 480,000tpa of ore from the project at the Greenfields gold processing facility, centrally located on an RJV lease adjacent to the RJV administration and technical base at Coolgardie.

Mr Williams' responsibilities also include the Company's 100%-owned Nepean Nickel Project, which, together with the Coolgardie Gold Project, has reached a stage requiring constant management review.

First-phase development work at Nepean, including shaft and winder refurbishment, is anticipated to be completed within budget and ahead of schedule.

Department of Industry and Resources approval to re-enter the historic Nepean underground workings is anticipated during the coming week. This will enable Focus to commence first-hand assessment of the condition of work faces in preparation for a scheduled ore-sampling program that will assist with the further refinement of mine plan parameters.

Given the Company's significant progress to date, first Nepean nickel ore extraction is anticipated in 2008.

In light of the management role changes, and in order to ensure the Board of Focus Minerals does not comprise a majority of executive members, Mr Chuck McCormick will step down as an executive director. Mr McCormick will continue in his role as Exploration Manager, developing and co-ordinating aggressive exploration programs at both the Nepean Nickel and Coolgardie Gold projects.

The management reallocations detailed above are designed to continue the impetus required to expedite the Nepean Nickel and Coolgardie Gold projects towards production in an efficient and thorough manner, fully utilising the experience and expertise of Mr Taig, Mr Williams and Mr McCormick.

The Board of Focus Minerals considers the reassignments as the optimal way in which to support the Company's rapid progress into production during a period of forecast continued strength in the international resources industry, repaying the faith shown by shareholders in the Company's endeavours.

Focus Minerals Ltd (ASX: FML) is an Australian-based exploration and development group whose focus is to become a significant gold and nickel producer in the Coolgardie-Kalgoorlie-Widgiemooltha region of Western Australia.

Focus Minerals is currently fast tracking development of its wholly-owned Nepean Nickel Project (current estimated resource totaling 591,300t @ 2.2% Ni) located 25km south of Coolgardie. Focus has a view of recommencing mining operations from the historic production centre in 2008.

Through its Redemption Joint Venture with Canadian-based Committee Bay Resources Ltd, Focus Minerals is the largest landholder in the Coolgardie Gold Belt located in Western Australia, 560km east of Perth and 35km west of the ‘Super Pit' in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. More than 2.6 million ounces of gold has been produced from the Coolgardie gold belt alone since 1892. The Redemption Joint Venture holds the mineral rights to more than 210sq km of tenements including Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources exceeding 1.6 million ounces of gold as well as the 1.2mtpa Three Mile Hill processing plant.