RNS Number:9920B
ATH Resources plc
14 August 2007




Press Release                                                    14 August 2007





                               ATH Resources plc



                        ("ATH Resources" or "the Group")





 Application for Planning Permission to extract 1.3 million tonnes of coal from
                                   Rigg site





ATH Resources (AIM:ATH) today announces that it has applied for planning
permission to extract 1.3 million tonnes of coal from its Rigg site which is 2km
west of Kirkconnel in Dumfries and Galloway.    The mine will have a likely
production life of 2.4 years, with a further 2 years for restoration, and will
create 100 new jobs.  All coal produced from the site will be transported by
extending the Group's conveyor network between Glenmuckloch and the
Crowbandsgate Rail Loading facility to Rigg, eliminating the need for road
transportation. It is intended that, on completion of mining, the site will be
restored to a mixture of forestry, marshy grassland, agricultural grazing and
fishing ponds with an emphasis on providing enhanced habitat for local wildlife,
particularly birds.

Tom Allchurch, Chief Executive, of ATH Resources said "We are pleased to be able
to propose another sensitively planned scheme in the area close to our existing
Glenmuckloch site which, if permitted, will further increase our coal production
and employment in the area, with over 100 local jobs being created.  This
application is a further step towards increasing the Group's reserve base as
production continues to grow."



                                    - Ends -



For further information:
ATH Resources plc
Tom Allchurch, Chief Executive                         Tel: +44 (0) 1302 760 462
tom@ath.co.uk                                                      www.ath.co.uk


Seymour Pierce
Nicola Marrin                                          Tel: +44 (0) 20 7107 8000



Media enquiries:
Abchurch
Charlie Jack / Georgina Bonham                         Tel: +44 (0) 20 7398 7715
charlie.jack@abchurch-group.com                           www.abchurch-group.com



ATH Resources is an AIM-listed operator of opencast coal mines in the UK with
its current four operational mines, Skares Road, Grievehill, Glenmuckloch and
Laigh Glenmuir in East Ayrshire in Scotland.  The Company is currently the third
largest producer of coal in the UK producing approximately 1.7 million tonnes
per annum.  Coal was used to generate 38 per cent of the UK's electricity in
2006 and the Company holds coal supply contracts with three of the UK's main
electricity generating companies.



The management team has been in place since 1998.  It acquired the rights to
operate (and subsequently acquire) the Skares Road mine with support from The
Alchemy Plan. Following ATH Resources' incorporation in October 2003, and backed
by a follow-on investment from The Alchemy Plan, the Company acquired the
Garleffan mine in November 2003. Garleffan is currently being restored having
finished coaling in June 2006. ATH Resources listed on the AIM market of the
London Stock Exchange in June 2004.



In June 2005, having raised #18 million by way of an Open Offer, the Group
acquired two new opencast sites, Grievehill and Glenmuckloch in Scotland. The
acquisition increased the Group's reserve base by 160% and provided longer term
stability to the business.



In addition to its operating mines, the Company also has a number of other coal
mining projects in Scotland and two through its French subsidiary, SRMMC
including a series of six existing coal concessions in south-central France,
covering an area of 36km, two with an estimated resource of approximately 4.5
million tonnes of recoverable coal.



In May 2006, the Group acquired Doncaster-based A Ogden & Sons Limited, now ATH
Regeneration Ltd, a successful coal recovery, land remediation and regeneration
business with a particular focus on colliery spoil heap reclamation projects.
ATH paid net #9.5 million for the business.  The acquisition, which was earnings
enhancing, allowed ATH to build on its skills as a regenerator of land, whilst
developing strong relationships with key English planning authorities.  The
company has been successfully integrated into the Group. The operational
diversification that the acquisition brought to the Group should be a
significant driver of ATH's organic growth going forward.



For the year ending 1 October 2006, the Group achieved turnover of #54.1
million, an increase of 38% on its 2005 year end, while EBITDA was up 68% to
#19.2 million for the same period.



Further information on ATH Resources can be found at www.ath.co.uk.












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