Japan

Neptune Minerals Plc (AIM: NPM), a leading explorer and developer of Seafloor Massive Sulphide (“SMS”) deposits, announces that it has lodged 405 Prospecting Licence Applications over highly prospective areas within the territorial waters of Japan. The applications have been accepted as correct by Japan’s Ministry for Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and have been allocated the tenement numbers 20/223 – 20/627.  The applications now await approval from METI to be granted as Prospecting Licences.

The applications were lodged by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Neptune Minerals Japan Kabushiki Kaisha and cover SMS-prospective seafloor features located approximately 500km south of Tokyo and adjacent to three areas covered by Neptune’s existing Prospecting Licence Applications.

Izu-Bonin Arc

The 405 applications with a total area of 1,400 km² cover areas in the Izu-Bonin Arc, a volcanic island arc and associated back-arc basin entirely within the territorial waters of Japan south of Tokyo. Neptune’s applications cover 6 areas considered to be highly prospective for SMS adjacent to three seamounts over which Neptune has existing Prospecting Licence Applications. These three seamounts – Bayonnaise, Myojin and Myojinsho Knolls – all host well-researched SMS deposits. One of these deposits, Sunrise, has been estimated by Japanese researchers to cover an area of 400m x 400m with a sulphide mound accumulations up to 30m thick.

Dr Simon McDonald, Neptune’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

“Neptune’s new Japanese applications are an important addition to the Company’s portfolio of high quality SMS tenements.  Neptune has utilised its early-mover advantage and good relationships with local researchers to apply for prospective acreage located close to potential offtake customers and resource-hungry markets.   These applications are adjacent to Neptune’s existing Izu Arc applications which cover all the known areas of SMS mineralisation in Japan”.

For further information please contact:

Simon McDonald (Neptune MD and CEO):                                   T: +61 (0) 2 9957 5244

By email to the Company:                                                                  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Richard Hail (Fox Davies Capital Limited, Broker):                     T: +44 (0) 20 7936 5230

Fiona Owen (Grant Thornton Corporate Finance, Nomad):      T: +44 (0) 20 7383 5100

Rozanne Ichikowitz (Grant Thornton Sydney):                              T: +61 (0) 2 8297 2522

Nadja Vetter / Matthew Law (Cardew Group, PR):                       T: +44 (0) 20 7930 0777