RNS Number:9750S
African Diamonds PLC
08 December 2003



8th December 2003



AFRICAN DIAMONDS DRILLING IDENTIFYS ANCIENT RIVER SYSTEM AND IS AWARD ADDITIONAL
PROSPECTING LICENCE IN ORAPA REGION


Serowe Alluvial Drilling


African Diamonds has completed a 38 hole drilling programme along 6 geophysical
lines on their Serowe licence some 100 kms South East of the Orapa diamond
field.


Preliminary results indicate that the anomalies identified are indeed part of an
ancient river system that may have drained Orapa.


Further detailed analysis of the recovered samples is underway seeking traces of
gravels that could be traced back to Orapa.



Orapa Kimberlite Drilling



Preliminary results are available from the first four of nineteen drill holes,
accounting for 40 tons out of 170 tones of chip samples on BK10, AK8, AK 9, and
AK12 kimberlite pipes on the Orapa prospecting licence 4/2002. The first stage
of diamond recovery involves processing the material through a 1 tonne per hour
jig plant in the field to concentrate heavy minerals, including diamond. The
heavy mineral concentrate will then be shipped to a facility in South Africa for
final diamond recovery using an X-ray sortex.



New Orapa Licence



African Diamonds has been awarded an additional prospecting licence over highly
prospective ground in the Orapa diamond field. Prospecting licence 7/2004 covers
999 sq kms and is contiguous with the northern and eastern boundaries of the
Orapa mine and completely surrounds the new Damtshaa mine both which are being
mined by Debswana, the De Beers and Botswana government joint venture.



John Teeling chairman commented, "The discovery of ancient river channels under
the Kalahari sands is a vital step toward the discovery of the Orapa alluvials.
We will follow up these results with an analysis of the recovered drill
material.



We believe that the Orapa kimberlites will be viable to mine at 10 cpht or 1/15
of an oz per 100 tons. So far we have processed 25 tons out of 170 tones of
drill material. All of the indicators are present. The full analysis will take a
further 6 weeks. The follow up steps are to drill additional kimberlites on the
licence and / or to take a 5000 bulk sample most probably from BK10.



The award of the new licence in the Orapa area is wonderful news. It is another
step toward our goal of having a significant presence in one of the greatest
diamond provinces on earth. I hope to be able to respond within weeks on our
plans for the licence."



Contacts:



African Diamonds Plc

John Teeling                                         Tel: +353 87 2581178
Leon Daniels                                         Tel: +267 24 40252


Redleaf Communications

Nick Lambert                                         Tel: +44 (0) 7811 358 764

Rowan Dartington & Co. Limited

Barrie Newton                                        Tel: +44 (0) 117 933 0011


                               www.afdiamonds.com

                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

DRLBVLFBXLBZFBK