Media Release

New Mine Manager Appointed at Spring Creek

Christo Marx, currently a manager of mining at a large underground mine in South Africa, has been appointed the Manager of Solid Energy's Spring Creek Underground Mine, near Greymouth. He is expected to take up the position in the first quarter of 2006.

Christo completed his Mining Engineering degree at University of Pretoria and currently holds the position of Manager, Mining with Kumba Resources at the Tshikondeni Underground Coal Mine. The mine, near the border of the Kruger National Park, is one of the only South African producers of coking coal to local steel industries.

Solid Energy is New Zealand's largest exporter to South Africa, selling around 3-400,000 tonnes of West Coast coking coal to steelmaker, Mittal Steel.

For more information contact Vicki Blyth,
Communications Director,
Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd,
Telephone 03 345 6090,
Mobile 021 670 250