Anglo American today announced that, as part of the sale process announced on 7 January 2009, it has entered into a preliminary agreement with Westside Corporation Ltd (“Westside”) to sell its 51 per cent interest in the Dawson Seamgas business in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.

Anglo American Metallurgical Coal Chief Executive Officer Mr Seamus French said:

“The preliminary agreement with Westside is subject to normal regulatory approvals and a pre-emption period for existing Joint Venture parties, in which they may contest the sale and seek to acquire the business themselves,” Mr French said.

“The pre-emption period will take several months, meaning the transaction is not expected to be completed until mid-2010.

“The business is relatively small in scale, representing less than 2 per cent of the coal seam gas reserves in Queensland,” Mr French said.

On sale completion, Westside will acquire Anglo’s share of gas in the Dawson area:

• The petroleum production area PL94;
• Associated exploration areas ATP564 and ATP602; and
• Access to extract gas from within the Dawson mining lease area.

The coal assets at the Dawson Mine are not affected by this sale.

“Anglo American Metallurgical Coal has a long-term commitment to developing coal resources in the Dawson region and the wider Bowen Basin,” Mr French said.

Dawson Seamgas employees and union officials have been and will continue to be kept informed throughout the sale process.

For further information:

Aldo Pennini
Tel: 0407 592 260

Jacqui Strambi
Tel: 0439 774 526

Notes to Editors:

Anglo American plc, one of the world’s largest mining groups. With its subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, it is a global leader in platinum group metals and diamonds, with significant interests in coal, base and ferrous metals, as well as an industrial minerals business. The Group is geographically diverse, with operations in Africa, Europe, South and North America, Australia and Asia.

www.angloamerican.com