Result of AGM

RJB Mining PLC 16 May 2000 AGM STATEMENT RJB Mining PLC advises that at its Annual General Meeting of shareholders, held in London today, the six ordinary and four special resolutions put to the meeting were approved by shareholders. Mr Alan Binder, non executive director, has formally retired from the Board (as announced at the time of the Preliminary results). Sales volumes in the first four months of the year have been robust at 7.9 million tonnes (1999: 7.6 million), producing a reduction in coal stocks of 1.7 million tonnes and resulting in good cash flow. In our underground mines, development work is scheduled which will affect the balance of production during the year leading to higher unit costs in the first half of the financial year. The number of planned production panel changes for the year is twenty six, with the timing of these panel changes such that fifteen will occur in the first half. Production in the second half will benefit from fewer panel changes with resultant lower unit costs. The financial performance for the year will be substantially affected by transitional State coal aid, particularly the amount and its timing. In response to the Government statement on 17 April, we are maintaining operations at Ellington and Clipstone collieries and have not implemented further manning reductions. Development work is to be restarted, and there will therefore, be a period in which costs will not be offset by income from production. The consultation process for State coal aid commenced early in May, and the creation of the framework for aid is underway. This should lead to a Government submission for approval to the European Commission in June and a determination within three months from that time. Coal aid payments are expected to be back-dated to an April 17 start date. Enquiries: Gavin Anderson & Company Gerald Gradwell/Fiona Grant Duff 020 7457 2345 Notes to Editors: RJB normally has about 20 coal faces (panels) operating at any one time at its 13 deep mines. Once coal is extracted from each panel, equipment is transferred to successor panels in a process which typically takes about three months to complete. While the total number of panels due for replacement this year is unaffected and similar to previous years, the phasing is such that more will be completed in the first half of the year, enabling mines to optimise production capacity in the second half and the approaching winter period of peak demand.
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