Company Update

Asia Energy PLC 14 October 2005 Asia Energy PLC ('Asia Energy' or 'The Company') Asia Energy announces coal quality for the Phulbari Coal Mine Asia Energy announces the latest coal quality test results from the Phulbari Coal Mine. These results are based on a comprehensive analysis of all exploration slim-core samples and the first of the two Large Diameter core samples specifically extracted to determine representative coal quality across the major coal seams. Testing and analysis has been undertaken by ACIRL Ltd in Australia under the supervision of Asia Energy's coal evaluation consultant, QCC Resources Pty Ltd. QCC has determined that through conventional, efficient coal washing and preparation processes, Phulbari 'Run of Mine' coal is capable of yielding a wide range of coal products with differing levels of ash and energy. In its report presented to Asia Energy this week, QCC has defined the parameters for three product categories - Export Thermal Coal (ETC), Low Ash Metallurgical Coal (LAMC) to be marketed as a Semi Soft Coking Coal (SSCC), and Domestic Thermal Coal (DTC). These products represent an optimum mix of clearly defined and internationally recognizable coal types, which are highly suited to the international and domestic coal trade. The principal specifications for the targeted export coal products are detailed below. These are 'Provisional' specifications based on testing and analysis to date and the mine plan schedule. The final 'Typical' Product Specifications are subject to the completion of tests on the second of the two Large Diameter core samples and on combustion testing over the next two months. Phulbari Export Thermal Coal (ETC) Thermal Coal is primarily used in coal-fired power generation and in raising heat for industrial processes such as cement clinker. The major coal quality properties used to price coal and determine efficient application in coal-fired power plants and compliance with environmental standards are specific energy, moisture, ash, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash chemistry, sulphur, and grindability (the ease with which the coal can be reduced to a pulverized fuel feed). Phulbari ETC is comparable in quality to major traded bituminous coal brands from Australia, South Africa, Indonesia and China. Therefore, there are no anticipated technical barriers to export market entry. In terms of those characteristics that maximise combustion efficiency - high energy, low moisture, low ash, manageable volatiles, high fixed carbon and benign ash chemistry - Phulbari ETC ranks highly on all counts. Whilst within market limits, Phulbari's sulphur is higher and grindability less favourable than some competing coals. However, Phulbari's high energy compensates for these features in both commercial and technical evaluations. High energy thermal coals are more efficient in power generation and industrial heat-raising as they reduce the quantity of coal needed to produce a unit of electricity or heat and, in turn, reduce emissions on a per unit basis. Phulbari ETC is, therefore, a premium product, which is expected to be positioned at the high end of internationally traded thermal coals. Phulbari Low Ash Metallurgical Coal (LAMC) Metallurgical coals are mainly used in the production of coke for blast furnace input in the integrated iron and steel industry worldwide. Semi-soft Coking Coal (SSCC) is blended with higher priced Hard Coking Coal to make cost effective coke. Phulbari's LAMC specification has many similarities with Rio Tinto's Hunter Valley SSCC brand, and to Chinese export SSCC brands. Like these brands, Phulbari only has moderate coking characteristics and cannot be used by itself to make coke, but is suitable as a blend component. Phulbari LAMC's key quality positives are its low ash and low to mid-range phosphorus. The ash level of less than 7.0% (air dried basis) are expected to be very attractive to coke-makers, who generally receive Hard Coking Coal in an ash range of 6% to 10%, and premium grade and standard (non-premium) grades of SSCC in an ash range of 4% to 8.5% and 8.5% to 11% respectively. Imported SSCC's with low ash and low phosphorus properties similar to Phulbari are particularly preferred and valued by the Indian iron and steel industry, mainly because they offset high ash in local coals, and higher phosphorus levels in locally supplied iron ore. It is anticipated that Phulbari LAMC will have a major freight advantage to the Indian market over competing suppliers. Phulbari Domestic Thermal Coal (DTC) As an outcome of the coal washing and preparation process, DTC can be produced with varying levels of ash, from 19% up to 33% (ad) and consequent reduced energy content, and with a sulphur content of around 0.9% (ad). In other respects, the DTC is similar to Phulbari ETC. Phulbari DTC is expected to be an ideal fuel for additional coal-fired electricity generating capacity in Bangladesh to help meet the country's growing power demand. Asia Energy has proposed a 500 MW plant to the Government of Bangladesh, which will consume around 1.5 Mtpa of higher ash coal and add significantly to the strength and market diversity of the Phulbari Project. A significant opportunity exists to supply coal to the Bangladesh brick-making industry, which has been estimated to consume at least 2.3 Mtpa of coal imported from India. Phulbari DTC has much lower sulphur (around 0.9% as received basis) and other contaminants than the Indian coal, which contains up to 4.0% sulphur. Using Phulbari coal will not only improve the environment around brickworks but is anticipated to enhance the Balance of Trade with India by reducing coal imports. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phulbari Export Coal Product Specifications Provisional --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Typical Unit of Analysis Low Ash Export Specification Measurement Basis Metallurgical Thermal Coal Coal LAMC ETC --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total moisture % ar 10.0 8.5 Proximate analysis % ad Moisture 2.8 2.4 Ash 6.8 12.0 Volatile 33.7 31.4 matter Fixed 56.7 54.2 carbon Total sulphur % ad 0.75 0.80 Chlorine % ad 0.02 0.02 Phosphorus % 0.03 0.04 Hardgrove grindability index 45 43 Crucible swelling N(o) 4 1 Top Size mm 50 50 Specific energy Gross: kcal/kg ad 7420 6930 Net: kcal/kg ar 6580 6240 Nitrogen % daf 1.8 1.8 Analysis of ash % SiO2 47 48 Al2O3 37 40 Fe2O3 6.5 5.3 CaO 0.9 0.4 MgO 0.2 0.2 Na2O 0.1 0.1 K2O 0.9 0.7 TiO2 5.6 3.4 Mn3O4 0.01 0.01 P2O5 1.10 0.73 SO3 0.1 0.1 Ash fusibility Hemisphere degreesC, red. atm 1550 >1600 ar: as received ad: air dried daf: dry ash free --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 October 2005 For further information please contact: Michael Frayne, Joint Managing Director Justine Howarth, Cathy Malins michael.frayne@asia-energy.com Parkgreen Communications David Lenigas, Joint Managing Director Tel: +44 (0) 20 7493 3713 david.lenigas@asia-energy.com justine.howarth@parkgreenmedia.com Asia Energy PLC cathy.malins@parkgreenmedia.com Tel: +44 (0) 20 7079 1798, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7491 2758 info@asia-energy.com; www.asia-energy.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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