HOLD FOR RELEASE AT 9:00 A.M. (GMT) ON 28 OCTOBER, 2002

28 October, 2002 ---George Forrest International and Gecamines announced today that, due to technical and economic considerations, the Luiswishi mine and cobalt concentrator located in Kipushi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo will be shut down starting 1 December, 2002.

The output from Luiswishi, currently averaging 500 metric tonnes cobalt/per month contained material, has been sent under exclusive contract to OM Group, Inc at OMG's cobalt refinery in Finland. The shut down of Luiswishi has been fully coordinated with OM Group, Inc. and is consistent with its production plans.

For further information, please contact:
<< J.Dassas- Attaché de Direction GFIA: 00243/970 32 629 >>
at George Forrest International.

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