02 Jul 2009

XSTRATA NICKEL AUSTRALASIA AGREES TO A 3 YEAR MANAGED SERVICES CONTRACTWITH NETLINK GROUP

Xstrata Nickel Australasia Pty Limited ("XNA") has entered into a 3 year Information Technology and Communications (ITC) Managed Service agreement with Netlink Group.

Netlink Group has been providing a complete outsourced ITC service to XNA since early circa 1998 when the company was operating as an ASX listed junior exploration company in search of Nickel tenements in Leinster, WA region. As XNA's operations expanded to include two operating mines, Cosmos and Sinclair Mines; as well as several exploration sites, Netlink Group continued to design, implement and support the company's expanding ITC infrastructure and systems requirements.

In 2008, Netlink Group provided integral project, consulting and support services during Xstrata's recent infrastructure upgrades and will continue to provide on-site and remote support for approximately 300 users across 3 sites. In addition Netlink Group will deliver pro-active sever, storage, network and IP Telephony infrastructure management, maintenance and monitoring services and on-going consulting services under the new Managed Services agreement.

Netlink Group Managing Director, Steve van Blommestein, said that this was a significant milestone in Netlink Groups history and proof that strong relationships are the key to keeping clients for the longer term.

"Netlink Group has been proud to be a part of XNA's growth for over a decade, having been there in the early days when remote data communications were required to support the commencement of the Cosmos operations to now, a two mine operation with a significant ITC infrastructure This agreement cements our long standing relationship and we look forward to continue to provide XNA with a highly effective ITC Managed Services for the next three years"

Xstrata Nickel Australasia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Xstrata, is high grade nickel sulphide producer. Operations commenced in 1999 at Cosmos with several other deposits being identified since the commencement of production in 2000 including the Sinclair Mine which commenced operations in 2007. Xstrata is based in West Perth.