Finders appoints GM to develop Maluku copper project

Australian mining firm Finders Resources announced on Tuesday the appointment of Robert Thomson as General Manager, Development, effective October 8 2008, with prime responsibility for successful completion of feasibility studies and subsequent development of the company's Wetar copper project in Maluku.

Rob holds a B.E (Mining) from the University of Queensland, an MBA from University of Wollongong, and is a Fellow of the AusIMM. He holds open cut mine managers certificates for NSW, WA and Queensland and has 30+ years of Australian and international mining experience.

His career achievements include development of 7 greenfield projects. The last 10 years and four mines have been spent working in Asia, as : - Project Manager Feasibility then GM Development for delivery through to commercial operations of Kingsgate's (ASX) Chatree Gold Mine in Thailand; Project Director for Oxiana's (ASX) Sepon Gold Mine delivery in Laos PDR; CEO (2003-6) of Philippine focussed, Climax Mining Ltd (formerly ASX listed) which in this four year period

included the revitalisation of the Company and commencement of construction of the long-delayed Didipio project leading to a A$250m takeover by Oceana Gold (ASX).

He is a founding director (2004) and until recently CEO (2006-8) of Vietnam focussed Asian Mineral Resources (TSX.V) with the Ban Phuc underground nickel/copper sulphide project.

Finders is targeting commercial production of 20-25,000 tonnes per year cathode at Wetar by the end of 2009. As part of the feasibility study, a demonstration SX-EW

plant with 5t per day copper cathode capacity is being installed with planned cathode production from September/October 2008, pending timely delivery of late equipment.(alex)