ACU African Copper

RNS Number:5998X
African Copper PLC
30 January 2006

PRESS RELEASE


30 January, 2006



www.africancopper.com

AIM: ACU
BSE: African Copper
TSX: ACU


                               AFRICAN COPPER Plc

 Matsitama Belt Exploration Returns High Grade Copper-Silver Drill Intersections


  * Drilling at the Thakadu-Makala deposits has shown the presence of a
    strataform, stratabound disseminated copper deposit within
    Proterozoic-folded metasediments of the Matsitama Belt.  This mineralization
    is similar to that found and mined within the Zambian Copper Belt.


  * 4.45% copper and 1.97 oz/t silver over a true width of 12.74 metres at
    Thakadu.


  * 2.64% copper and 2.52 oz/t silver over a true width of 6.24 metres at
    Makala.


  * Thakadu is about 2000 metres along strike from Makala.  Exploration
    between the two deposits has been sporadic in the past.  Surface
    geochemistry indicates that the mineralization can be traced for a further
    2000 metres beyond Makala.


African Copper Plc ("African Copper" or the "Company") announces the results of
the initial drilling from the first of the high priority targets in the
Matsitama Schist belt. The Thakadu and Makala deposits are sediment-hosted
stratabound disseminated sulphide zones in a metamorphosed sedimentary sequence
with minor volcanic and volcaniclastic units.  African Copper placed a drill
hole into each deposit in late 2005 to confirm geology, mineralization and tenor
of copper and silver.  The drill hole into Thakadu returned 4.45% copper and
1.97 oz/t of silver over a true width of 12.74 metres.  The drill hole into
Makala returned 2.64% copper and 2.52 oz/t silver over a true width of 6.24
metres.


The primary sulphide minerals are chalcopyrite (85-90%) and bornite (10-15%)
with minor pyrite adjacent to the copper bearing material. The deposits carry up
to 6 oz/t of silver and average about 2 oz/t over the mineralized unit. The
upper 50 metres of the deposits are characterized by secondary zones of
oxidation where the primary sulphides are replaced by chalcocite, malachite and
cuprite-tenorite together with traces of native copper and marcasite. Previous
operators completed extensive metallurgical tests that showed a copper recovery
of 90 to 96% can be achieved by flotation of the sulphides producing a sulphide
concentrate containing 28 to 32% copper and approximately 250 g/t silver (Please
see "Technical Report on the Dukwe Copper Project and Matsitama Prospecting
Licences Botswana, Africa" dated May 5, 2005 prepared by ACA Howe International
Limited and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or the Company's website at
www.africancopper.com).


Joe Hamilton, Chief Operating Officer of African Copper, commented "The deposits
at Thakadu and Makala show striking similarities to the sedimentary hosted
copper deposits of Zambia and the Congo.  The structural setting, age of
mineralization and associated rock types and mineralogy are almost identical to
those found in some of the larger copper deposits.  The grade is certainly
equivalent.  These deposits lie within Botswana which has a low geopolitical
risk, good infrastructure and a skilled workforce.  The proximity to road, rail,
power and water may be of significant benefit to the potential development of
these deposits."

The Thakadu-Makala area is approximately 70 kilometres to the southeast of the
Company's flagship Dukwe Project within the prolific Matsitama Metasedimentary
Belt.  The Prospecting Licence surrounding the Thakadu-Makala area was granted
to African Copper on 1 January 2005.  Subsequently, the Company has completed an
extensive review of historical data, and drilled these two test holes into each
target late in 2005.

Thakadu and Makala lie at the eastern end of a 40 kilometre long mineralized
belt which contains numerous showings of sedimentary hosted copper-silver,
copper-lead-zinc and zinc-silver. The deposits are approximately 2000 metres
apart, but only sporadic exploration has been conducted between the two
deposits.  Surface geochemistry and geophysics, as well as geologic mapping and
trenching indicates that the folded stratigraphy is probably continuous between
the two deposits, and that mineralization may extend for up to 2000 metres to
the west of Makala.  These deposits are five to ten kilometres from the
Francistown-Orapa paved highway.

The dataset over the deposits includes approximately 39,000 metres (156 holes)
of surface percussion and diamond drilling, prospect shafts to a depth of
approximately 70 metres on each deposit with a combined 620 metres of lateral
development, 882 metres of underground diamond drilling, 3 tonne samples of
oxide and sulphide material for bench scale metallurgical test work, 180 tonnes
of sulphide mineralization taken for pilot plant test work and a variety of
hydrogeological, geotechnical, and mineralogical investigations. The deepest
drill holes attain a vertical depth of about 550 metres and were still well
mineralized indicating that the down dip potential is significant.  This work
culminated in the late 1990s with a fully permitted Mining Licence granted over
the concession.  No construction ever commenced and the Mining Licence defaulted
back to the Botswana government in late 2003.  The area became open for
acquisition in March of 2004 and a Prospecting Licence was granted to African
Copper in January 2005.

Four feasibility studies were completed on the Thakadu and Makala deposits by
previous operators between 1980 and 1993.  These studies noted a number of
constraints to development at that time including available water and electrical
power supplies and a lack of skilled workers in the region.  The infrastructure
situation has changed in the region with marked improvements in the available
human resources, water and power supplies.  The Thakadu and Makala deposits need
to be re-evaluated in the light of these changes.

African Copper intends to complete a feasibility study on these deposits. The
Company will initiate a drill programme to systematically drill the four
kilometre strike extent of favourable stratigraphy over the next eight months.
Drilling is planned to commence shortly with at least three drills assigned to
the project.


A table showing the composite assay intervals for the diamond drill holes is
shown below.  A plan map showing the location of historical holes and these
holes is available on the African Copper website at www.africancopper.com.
Cross sections of the drill holes reported herein are also available on the
website.


Mr. Joseph Hamilton, P.Geo., and Chief Operating Officer of African Copper, is a
"qualified person" as defined in Canada by National Instrument 43-101.  This
press release has been prepared under Mr. Hamilton's supervision.   Mr. Hamilton
has verified the data disclosed in this press release including the sampling,
analytical and test data underlying the information.


Table 1:  Selected Drill Intersections


Thakadu                  Hole:    TH6A
         From            To         Width       Copper      Silver
          (m)           (m)          (m)           %         oz/t
          28.85        29.80         0.95        0.85        0.10
          29.80        30.78         0.98        0.14        0.10
          30.78        31.17         0.39        0.02      

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