Copper

[Ed Monton]

African Copper Plc: Dukwe Drilling At Mapanipani Returns More High-Grade Intersections

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(CCNMatthews - March 24, 2006) - African Copper Plc (TSX:ACU)(AIM:ACU)(BSE:African Copper) -

- Drilling at the Dukwe project continues to show high-grade pockets of mineralisation contained within the broad breccia package. Results from a further 6 drill holes from the central Mapanipani zones are reported in Table 1.

- 5.15% copper over 6.90 metres and 3.23% copper over 10.13 metres contained within a larger intersection of 1.56% copper over 61.69 metres.

- 4.03% copper over 4.10 metres contained within 1.08% copper over 48.50 metres

- These results continue to demonstrate the geological continuity of broad mineralized zones, which has now been traced by the current drilling for 1,600 metres of strike extent.

- Mineralization is similar to that encountered further north, with narrow high-grade sections occurring throughout the broad breccia package.

The Dukwe deposit is known to exist over a strike length of 4,370 metres in five separately named sections which are continuous along strike except for slight displacements along post-mineral faults. The current 30,000+ metre delineation diamond drilling programme is focusing on three of these sections covering a 2,000 metre strike length: Mapanipani North, Mapanipani and Bushman. The drill programme is being managed and supervised by RSG Global Pty Ltd., an independent contractor to African Copper Plc ("African Copper" or the "Company"). Metallurgical testing has confirmed that oxide, supergene and sulphide material can be recovered through conventional flotation to create a marketable concentrate (see press release dated 21 February 2006).

The central Mapanipani zone has shown intersections of further high-grade mineralization at a vertical depth between 325 metres and 375 metres. Drilling intersected 5.15% copper over 6.90 metres and 3.23% copper over 10.13 metres contained within a larger intersection of 1.56% copper over 61.69 metres. Approximately 120 metres to the south of this intersection, a drill hole returned 4.03% copper over 4.10 metres contained within 1.08% copper over 48.50 metres. These results continue to demonstrate the semi-massive nature of mineralization that is contained within the broader, lower grade breccia package. This mineralization remains open to depth.

The summary results for the delineation drillholes reported are shown in the table below. Location plan maps and cross sections are available on our website at www.africancopper.com.