Perkoa

• The Perkoa Zinc mine is located in the Sanguie Province of Burkina Faso, 120km west of the capital Ouagadougou. The project is 35km by road from the country's third largest town, Koudougou, which is linked to neighbouring states of Cote D' Ivoire, Ghana and Togo by tarred roads and by rail to Abidjan, capital of Cote D'Ivoire.
• The Government of Burnkina Faso is supportive of all mine developments, based on the country’s recent 2003 Mining code, which was drafted in a manner that is attractive to foreign companies. In accordance with the Mining, Code, the Government of Burkina Faso is entitled to 10% free-carried interest in the Perkoa project, and provides some beneficial tax concessions.
• The Perkoa zinc mine will be the largest mine development undertaken in the country to date and there is a growing level of excitement over its progression. A Mining Code drafted in 2003, which adopted the principals of worlds’ best practice, sets the terms and conditions for the development of mining projects. The Government is currently upgrading the road to the mine site and has constructed the Seboun Dam that will provide water for the project. In addition, a rail line, built eight years ago, passes through Koudougou, within 30km from the mine site.
• The Perkoa deposit is a classic VMS deposit hosted by the Lower Proterozoic Birimian Belt. The deposit is unusual for its high concentrations of zinc and barium mineralisation, and relatively low levels of lead and copper. The prospective Birimian rocks in Burkina Faso are the same sequences which host major gold deposits in neighbouring Ghana and Mali.
• Between 1979 and 1992 the deposit was the subject of three separate exploration campaigns. The concession originally covered 484 km2 but has since been reduced to approximately 320 km2, as a consequence of statutory relinquishments.
• AIM acquired 100% of the project in January 2005. Snowden Mining Industry Consultants completed a Bankable Feasibility Study ('BFS') in December 2005. 
• Perkoa has a JORC-compliant ore reserve of 6.3 million tonnes at a mine head grade of 14.5% zinc (at a 9% Zn cut off), equating to 908,000 tonnes of contained zinc metal.

• AIM transferred 10% interest to the Burkina Faso government in March 2007, in accordance with statutory requirements upon agreement of exploitation license.

Ore reserves	6.3 mt
Ore per vertical metre	10,000 t
Plant throughput	525,000 tpa
Head grade	14.5% Zn
Zn recovery	92%
Concentrate production	130,000 tpa
Concentrate grade	53%
Metal production	68,000 tpa Zn

• Construction at the Perkoa Zinc mine commenced in March 2007 following the grant of an exploitation licence for mining purpose.
• The development of the box cut was completed in June 2007, which forms the main entry point to commence development of the portal and decline.
• Key project partners have been appointed:
  • Byrnecut Mining - Managing contractor for the construction and mining of the underground mine;
  • DRA Mineral projects - Engineering, Procurement and Construction Manager for plant and infrastructure;
  • Xstrata Zinc, Votarantim Metais and Boliden - Concentrate off-take partners;
  • Letters of intent signed by offtake partners, Xstrata Zinc and Boliden;
  • Banlaw Africa – Construction and surface civil infrastructure;
  • Bollore – Transport logistics of ore from site to Port of Adidjan;
  • Outotec (formerly Outokumpu) – Manufacture and supply of Perkoa mill, flotation cells and thickener units;
  • Sandvik – Manufacture and supply of Axera 7 drilling ‘jumbo’ used for the development of the underground mine workings;
  • SHELL – Supply and management of fuel facility;
  • Caterpillar – Supply of diesel generated power station;
  • Caterpillar – Manufacture of underground mining equipment;Sandvik – Supply of crushing and grinding;
  • African Explosives Limited – Supply and management of explosive;
  • National and Overseas Modular Buildings – Supply of offices, accommodation and changeroom facilities;
  • Allterrain Services Group – Catering and camp management;
  • SOS International – Medical, Emergency and Evacuation;
  • West African Drilling Services/Boart Longyear – Exploration drilling contractors;
  • TOYOTA – Supply of site vehicles.

The project is being progressed towards the first ore being mined in 2008 and zinc concentrate exports expected in 2009