Scoping Study Announcement

SHANTA GOLD LIMITED SCOPING STUDY ANNOUNCEMENT SHANTA HAS AWARDED THE CONTRACTS TO CONDUCT A CONCEPTUAL MINING STUDY AND AN ESIA FOR CHUNYA 17 June 2009 Shanta Gold Limited ("Shanta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a conceptual mining study contract and an environmental and social impact assessment ("ESIA") have been commissioned for the Chunya project in southern Tanzania. TWP Projects (Pty) Ltd ("TWP") in South Africa have been contracted to conduct the conceptual mining study and PaulSam Geo-Engineering Co. Ltd of Tanzania will conduct the ESIA. In April 2009 Shanta announced a JORC compliant resource assessment for the Chunya project of 845,000 ounces in the indicated and inferred categories. This resource and the level of geological knowledge of the ore bodies has justified the commencement or preliminary techno-economic mining and ESIA studies with a view to achieving a first pass determination of the economic viability of a small to medium scale mine on the site. It is planned that the outcomes of these studies will be used to justify the further work needed to complete a pre-feasibility study. Conceptual Mining Study The scope of work will include: - a review and evaluation of the ore body models to ensure a realistic geological model is used for design work, including rock strengths, ore body shape, estimate of gold content, future exploration programmes to upgrade the resource; - determination of conceptual mining methods, mine access, layouts, schedules, geotechnical and support parameters; - conceptual assessment of infrastructure requirements, surface and underground services, logistical and systems requirements including process flow diagrams, major equipment lists and order of magnitude cost estimates; - human resource complements, remuneration and organogram; - order of magnitude capital expenditure estimates for all major items, operating expenditure fixed and variable costs and a discounted cash flow model; and - a risk assessment. A concept study report will be compiled by TWP that describes the proposed techno-economic solution for the project. The study is expected to be completed within 8-10 weeks of commencement and to be tabled with Shanta by the middle to end of August 2009. Environmental Impact Assessment The objective of the ESIA study will be to conduct an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for a mining operation at Chunya. The projects outputs will be a scoping report with Terms of Reference for a detailed ESIA and an ESI Statement for the project which will include: - determination of the impacts of the proposed mine; - the analysis of alternatives to the project; - the development of a management plan to mitigate negative impacts; and - a monitoring plan. The project is expected to be completed within six months and will include reviews, and require approval, from the National Environmental Management Committee and the Vice President's office in Tanzania. Shanta plans to utilise the reports from these two studies to form the basis for further more in depth studies that should lead to completion of a pre-feasibility study and to support the extension of the prospecting licence term in accordance with the Mining Act (1998) of Tanzania (Section 29 (I) (d) ) in order to complete a feasibility study. In line with Shanta's strategy these studies will also contribute significantly to the Company's understanding of the economics of the deposit at Chunya and assist with the securing of financial and operating partners to develop a mine at this site. For further information: Shanta Gold Limited http://www.shantagold.com Walton Imrie Mobile: +27 (0) 82 444 2851 David Scott Mobile: + 255 (0) 784 366146 Walter Vorwerk Mobile: +27 (0) 83 308 0080 Fairfax I.S. PLC Ewan Leggat/Laura Littley +44 (0) 20 7598 5368 GLOSSARY JORC - The Joint Ore Reserves Committee. The Australasian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the 'JORC Code' or 'the Code'), which sets out minimum standards, recommendations and guidelines for Public Reporting of exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves in Australasia. Measured Resource. An in-situ mineral resource calculated with a high confidence level to which economic parameters have not been applied. Also that part of a mineral resource where the data used for inspection, sampling and measurement is of sufficient quality and density such that the geological character, continuity, grade and nature are sufficiently well understood to define the location and characteristics of mineralisation with a high degree of confidence. Indicated Resource. An in-situ mineral resource calculated with a moderate confidence level to which economic parameters have not been applied. Inferred Resource. An in-situ mineral resource calculated with a low confidence level to which economic parameters cannot be applied. ---END OF MESSAGE--- This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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