Release: WestSide: Indonesian permit update

(18 May 2009)--WestSide Corporation Ltd advises that it has become aware of reports from Indonesia that coal seam gas (CSG) permits have been issued over the Kaltim Prima Coal and Arutmin coal mine sites in Indonesia.

WestSide has agreements with Indonesia?s leading thermal coal producer, PT Bumi Resources, to jointly explore for CSG in Indonesia, initially at the coal deposits controlled by Bumi subsidiaries PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) and PT Arutmin Indonesia.

The reports indicate that Bumi Resources have a 30% interest in an entity which has been awarded the Tabulako block (believed to include the Arutmin mines) and a 30% stake in an entity which has a 60% interest in the Sangatta II block (believed to include the KPC coal deposits).

WestSide is yet to receive formal notification of the issue of the permits and will provide further guidance in respect of its interest in these permits once it has confirmed the ownership structure with its joint venturers in Indonesia.

?WestSide is appreciative of Bumi and KPC?s support and co-operation to date in jointly assessing the CSG potential of the KPC area,? WestSide?s Chairman and CEO, Angus Karoll said.

WestSide is currently focused on commercialising gas resources in its Queensland CSG permits, with drilling operations currently underway in ATP688P, south of Collinsville as part of an $18 million appraisal program with joint venturer, QGC. (end of release)