Fresnillo / Newmont JV acquisition of Noche Bue...

15 December 2008

                            Fresnillo plc
                   ("Fresnillo" or the "Company")
  Fresnillo / Newmont JV acquisition of Noche Buena gold project in
                               Mexico


Fresnillo plc,  the  world's  largest  primary  silver  producer  and
Mexico's second  largest  gold  producer, announces  that  Minera  El
Bermejal, S de  R.L. de C.V.  (''Bermejal''), an affiliate of  Minera
Penmont S. de R. L. de  C. V. ("Penmont") has completed the  purchase
of the Noche  Buena gold  project in Sonora,  Mexico, from  Seabridge
Gold Inc ("Seabridge", TSX:  SEA, NYSE Alternext US:  SA).

Bermejal and Penmont each are owned 56 per cent. by Fresnillo plc and
44 per cent.  by Newmont  USA Limited  (''Newmont''), a wholly  owned
subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation. Penmont is a joint  venture
between Fresnillo plc and  Newmont, whose primary  investment is  the
Herradura gold mine in Sonora, Mexico which is operated by  Fresnillo
plc.

The price paid to Seabridge was US$25 million in cash at closing  and
a further US$5  million is  payable upon  commencement of  commercial
production from Noche Buena and a 1.5% net smelter royalty is payable
on all production sold for US$800 per ounce of gold or greater.

Noche Buena is a disseminated gold deposit amenable to open pit
mining and is located 23 kilometres southeast of the Herradura gold
mine.  The present drill indicated resource is 600,000 ounces of gold
and additional exploration is planned in the area.  Given the
proximity to Herradura and the development potential, the acquisition
of Noche Buena is consistent with Fresnillo plc's strategy to
consolidate mining districts.


For further information please visit www.fresnilloplc.com or contact:

Fresnillo plc


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| London Office                           | Tel: [phone] |
| Octavio  Alvidrez,  Head  of   Investor |                         |
| Relations                               |                         |
|-----------------------------------------+-------------------------|
| Mexico City Office                      | Tel: [phone]    |
| Gabriela Mayor                          |                         |
|-----------------------------------------+-------------------------|
| Brunswick                               | Tel: [phone] |
| Patrick Handley                         |                         |
| Carole Cable                            |                         |
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About Fresnillo plc

Fresnillo Plc  is the  world's largest  primary silver  producer  and
Mexico's second largest  gold producer,  listed on  the London  Stock
Exchange under the symbol FRES.

Fresnillo has  three  producing  mines,  all  of  them  in  Mexico  -
Fresnillo, Ciénega and Herradura; two advanced development projects -
Fresnillo II, Soledad  & Dipolos; and  three exploration prospects  -
San Juan, San Julian, Orysivo, as well as a number of other long term
exploration prospects and, in total, has mining concessions  covering
approximately 1.3 million hectares in Mexico.

Fresnillo has a strong and long  tradition of mining, a proven  track
record of mining development and reserves replacement, and a low cost
of production, being  in the lowest  quartile of the  cost curve  for
both silver and gold.

Fresnillo intends to  maintain its  position as  the world's  largest
primary silver  producer  with  the  aim  of  approximately  doubling
production, on a silver equivalent  ounce basis, within the next  ten
years and increasing its gold production.

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