Independence Group NL (IGO) –Lightning Nickel Continues to Provide the Driving Force behind the Independence Group

• IGO’s Long mine of Lightning Nickel appears to be settling down as a relatively low cash cost, 9,000tpaNi operation (5,760tpaNi attributable at ~64%). IGO’s aim is to find another stand-alone Ni orebody within the Long mine, so that production could be increased to 12,000tpaNi to 15,000tpaNi (attributable : 7,700-9,600tpaNi).
• The recent discovery of the McLeay deposit south of Victor South could evolve into a stand alone orebody, being open in all directions and with a number of surfaces. Drilling is expected to establish an initial resource by September 2005.
• The Gibb-Victor lava channel is establishing a record as one of the highest grade lava channels at Kambalda, with Gibb South averaging 8.0%Ni (largely due to occasional 18% to 20% Ni zones), and Victor South averaging 4.6% to date. Both Victor South and the new McLeay deposit lie within this lava channel. Depending on the dilution at Victor South in the coming year, IGO could produce between 8,500t and 9,500t Ni based on average grades for the mine of 3.5% to 4.0% Ni .
• The lava channels shown to date are simplified schematic representations of what the orebodies within them broadly follow. The recent drillhole intersections by IGO outside of these lava channels and beyond perceived boundaries within the channel (such as the 3.4m @ 4.5%Ni below 12 Level at Long) and the spectacular 4.4m @ 16.2%Ni show that there appears to be the capability to add material resources to Long and Victor, and extend Lightning Nickel’s life.
• IGO continues to mine significant ore outside of its reserves, averaging up to 46% more nickel since IGO started in October 2002 (at 8% lower on grade), which also infers further extensions to Lightning Nickel’s life (usually based on reserves).