• 12% quarter-on-quarter increase in production to 6.8 million attributable silver equivalent ounces

• Production increased 33% at San Jose, 16% at Arcata and 9% at Pallancata

• H1 2010 production of 12.8 million attributable silver equivalent ounces

• On track to achieve 2010 production target of 26.3 million attributable silver equivalent ounces

• Resource life of mine up 11% in H1 2010 to 7.9¹ years, expected to further increase by year end

• Largest ever exploration budget of $50 million for 2010; programme delivering impressive results:

• Scoping study commenced at 100% owned Azuca project

• Crespo project progressing towards scoping study

• Intensive drilling programme at potential company maker projects

• $6.0 million invested in Gold Resource Corporation in Q2 2010, increasing stake to 30%²

• Continued focus on profitability and cost control - costs remain in line with expectations

First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (“First Quantum” or the “Company”, TSX Symbol “FM”, LSE Symbol “FQM”) provide a progress report on the Kevitsa nickel-copper-PGE project in Finland. The project was approved for development by the Company’s Board of Directors in November 2009 and is expected to begin commercial production in mid 2012.

Highlights

• BNP Paribas and Standard Bank of South Africa jointly mandated to arrange a debt facility
• Government support agreed for several infrastructure projects
• On-site construction activity commenced with approximately 75 construction personnel currently on site
• Ongoing drill program returns further positive results

• Salt producer does not meet contractual obligation to supply

Lonmin Plc announced its production report and interim management statement for the three and nine months to 30 June 2010 (unaudited).

Cegelec, a subsidiary of VINCI’s energies business line, is to supply, as part of a consortium headed by GE Energy, all the civil engineering as well as the electrical and mechanical balance of plant for a turnkey thermal power station for the Office national de l’Electricité (ONE), the Morocco’s main electricity sector operator.

Hydro had underlying earnings before financial items and tax of NOK 1,110 million in the second quarter, rising from NOK 688 million in the first quarter. Higher realized aluminium prices, continued improvements in alumina operations and higher downstream sales lifted underlying results for the quarter.

• NOK 1,110 million in second quarter underlying EBIT
• Solid demand in seasonally strong quarter
• Upstream improves on higher aluminium prices and alumina performance
• Downstream rises further with strong sales, firm margins and improved productivity
• Energy falls on significantly lower power production
• Qatalum ramp-up on schedule for full output in Q4, 48 percent of cells in operation end-Q2
• Takeover of Vale's aluminium business on track for Q4 closing
• NOK 10 billion rights offering successfully completed
• 2010 outlook for growth in Hydro's main markets unchanged at 12 percent

• KCA DEUTAG engineering division, RDS, awarded contract for AIOC Chirag Oil Project execute phase

RDS, the world’s leading specialist designer of drilling facilities, has been awarded the contract for the Chirag Oil Project (COP) “Execute” phase by the Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC), operated by BP.

Highlights:

• Production volumes increased for ferrochrome, PGMs, Australian coking and semi-soft coal, refined nickel, zinc in concentrate and lead in concentrate compared to the first half of 2009

• Ferrochrome production rose by 149% in response to improved market conditions. The third quarter ferrochrome benchmark price was settled at $1.30 per pound

• Australian coking coal production was 73% higher following the resumption of longwall operations at Oaky No. 1 in August 2009 and increased productivity at Oaky North.  Semi-soft production increased by 50% at the expense of thermal coal volumes to take advantage of higher market prices

• During the first half, Xstrata Coal commissioned the underground Blakefield South mine in Australia that will replace Beltana and is ramping up to reach full capacity in the third quarter of 2010 and continued the ramp of the recently completed Goedgevonden greenfield open cut operation in South Africa, to its capacity of 12 million ROM tonnes per annum (100%)

• Xstrata’s share of Collahuasi’s copper production increased by 8% to 117,363 tonnes, due to improved mill throughput, ore grades and metallurgical recoveries. Higher copper grades improved production at Kidd Mine

• Total refined nickel increased by 8% as the integrated nickel operations maximised capacity through processing all of Xstrata Nickel Australasia’s feed. In April, Nickel Rim South commenced full mine operation and is on track to reach full capacity of 18,000 tonnes of nickel in concentrate per annum in 2011

• The ongoing transformation of Xstrata Zinc through expansions and productivity improvements at the Australian operations contributed to a 6% increase in production of zinc in concentrate. Zinc metal and lead metal volumes increased with all smelters operating at full capacity.

Xcel Energy is the latest U.S. utility to address its future nuclear fuel supply needs by selecting GNF to continue providing reliable fuel and reload-engineering services to the company’s Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. The plant is located about 50 miles northwest of Minneapolis, where Xcel Energy is headquartered.

Second quarter and half year 2010^(a)