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Tawana - Press Release

Release Date: 26/05/2006 08:31
Code(s): TAW
Wrap Text

Tawana - Press Release Tawana Resources NL (Incorporated in Australia) Registration number ACN 085 166 721) Share code on the JSE Limited: TAW & ISIN: AU000000TAW7 Share code on the Australian Stock Exchange Limited: TAW & ISIN: AU000000TAW7 ("Tawana" or "the Company") Annual General Meeting Chairman"s address 26 May 2006 I am very pleased to report that our company has made significant progress during the last 12 months and we are now positioned to leverage off the hard work of Wolf"s team as we move to trial mine KV2 at Kareevlei Wes and commence bulk testing at Blacktop in the second half of this year. Tawana successfully completed an underwritten rights issue, raising $7.5 million before costs. Tawana"s shareholder base has been strengthened with South African and Australian institutions participating in the underwritten rights issue, further endorsing the Company"s goal of advancing its kimberlite assets. It is pleasing that some $3.5 million of the issue has been taken up by South African institutions. The proceeds from the rights issue and sale of the laboratory freehold underpins the funding of a focused two year work program which includes further work on assessing the economics of our kimberlite projects, drilling Falcon targets and accelerating regional exploration in the Pilbara. Other operational highlights include BHP Billiton"s commitment to fund 70% of the costs associated with drilling the Falcon targets after re-interpreting the Daniel Project data which identified a number of new structures and targets. Following the close of the meeting, Wolf and Basil will give you a presentation outlining the Company"s two year work program. Trial mining at the Eastern Gravels project demonstrated that the distribution of high quality diamonds was broad in nature, with typically erratic concentrations identified. The next stage of the project would be to implement a large scale operating trial. Tawana is seeking to secure the involvement of an operator having the plant, equipment and staff to mine at a rate that can confirm the project economics. To support the transition from exploration to trial mining, your Board has strengthened the management team with the appointment of Basil Tambanis who has joined us as Corporate Operating Officer. He is an experienced corporate adviser with strong ties to the resource sector and financial markets. Prior to entering the equity capital markets, Basil spent eight years in the mining sector managing the construction and commissioning of a variety of mining projects. Basil brings the capacity to pursue corporate opportunities and to maintain a close link with our shareholders and other stakeholders, leaving Wolf and the technical team to concentrate on enhancing our exploration work. Visiting us today is Thabo Makweya, the chief executive of Seven Falls, our BEE partner in South Africa. In welcoming Thabo, I would like to acknowledge the fundamental contribution that he and his people make to facilitating our programs in South Africa. Over the past 15 or so months, Wolf has spent about five months overseas on the Company"s behalf, raising funds, securing the JSE listing, completing the Tawana DeBeers Pilbara and laboratory deal, revitalizing the Daniel kimberlite program, and advancing the Kareevlei project. I believe the fruits of this labour are now beginning to form, and that we can look forward to an interesting 2006. On your behalf, I thank Wolf and the Tawana team for their efforts. Brian Phillips Chairman 26 May 2006 For enquiries contact: Wolf Marx Mobile: 0961 428 398446 wolf.marx@tawana.com.au Andrew H Smith Investor Relations Manager Telephone 0961 08 8276 8794 Facsimile 0961 08 8357 5052 Mobile 0417 265 205 Email andrew.smith@tawana.com.au Representative Office: Kimberley South African Sponsor to Tawana: PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance (Pty) Limited All press releases and announcements may be inspected on the Company"s web site: www.tawana.com.au 26 May 2006 Date: 26/05/2006 08:31:04 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department

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