EQSTRA HOLDINGS LIMITED - Rio Tinto declares force majeure at the Benga project in Mozambique

Rio Tinto declares force majeure at the Benga project in Mozambique

Eqstra Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1998/011672/06)
Share code: EQS, EQS1, EQS2, EQS4
ISIN: ZAE000117123
(“Eqstra” or “the group”)

RIO TINTO DECLARES FORCE MAJEURE AT THE BENGA PROJECT IN MOZAMBIQUE

Rio Tinto Benga Limiteda ("Rio Tinto"), contracts Eqstra Mozambique
Limitada, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eqstra, to conduct its open
cast mining operations at its Benga mine in Mozambique.

On Wednesday 20 February 2013 Rio Tinto issued a force majeure notice
informing Eqstra that its contractual obligations will be suspended
as from midnight 20 February 2013 due to the flood damage to the Sena
railway line preventing the export of coal through the port of Beira.

The duration of the force majeure is unknown and shareholders will be
updated as the company gains clarity on the developments from Rio
Tinto and our internal executive assessment team that has been
dispatched to Benga.

Joint meetings have been set up between Rio Tinto and Eqstra to
establish measures to be taken to minimise the impact of the event.

Kempton Park
21 February 2013

Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)
 

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