Talvivaaran Kaivososakeyhtiö Oyj - Company Announcement

Materials handling processes commence at Talvivaara

Talvivaara Mining Company Plc (“Talvivaara” or the “Company”) is pleased to
announce that the ramp-up of the materials handling processes at the Talvivaara
mine has commenced on schedule at the beginning of July 2008. 

On 1 July 2008 the Company contracted primary crushing, and by 16 July 2008
secondary and tertiary crushing, agglomeration and provisional stacking
arrangements were operational. Bioheapleaching has also commenced with
inoculation and irrigation of the starter heap. 

Talvivaara's stacking equipment is anticipated to be operational by the end of
July 2008. Meanwhile, temporary arrangements have been made for stacking in
order to keep the overall schedule of the project intact, with the aim of
producing the first nickel and zinc sulphides in October 2008. The arrangement
will not have a material effect on operating costs. The scheduled delivery of
Talvivaara's own primary crusher is expected in December, as previously
announced. 

Talvivaara's CEO, Pekka Perä comments: “Reaching this significant milestone on
schedule is the result of excellent cooperation between Talvivaara and its
contractors. I therefore extend my thanks to both our own and the contractors'
teams who have worked tirelessly over the last weeks and months and postponed
their well-earned summer vacations in order to reach this goal. Although the
milestone reached is extremely important, the hard work continues with
commissioning the rest of the materials handling equipment and erecting and
commissioning the metals recovery plant.” 

 
ENQUIRIES

Talvivaara Mining Company Plc. Tel: +358 20 7129 800
Pekka Perä CEO						                       
Saila Miettinen-Lähde CFO							           

Merlin Tel: +44 207 653 6620
Tom Randell
Anca Spiridon

Talvivaara aims to become an internationally significant base metals producer
with its primary focus on nickel and zinc using a technology known as
bioheapleaching to extract metal out of low grade ore.  Bioheapleaching makes
extraction of metals from low grade ore economically viable. The Talvivaara
deposits comprise one of the largest known sulphide nickel resources in Europe.
 The ore body is sufficient to support anticipated production for a minimum of
24 years and production is expected to start in late 2008. The Company has
secured a 10-year off-take agreement for 100 per cent. of its main output of
nickel and cobalt to Norilsk Nickel.