PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA--(Marketwire - 07/21/09) - Lihir Gold Ltd (TSX:LGG - News)(ASX:LGL - News)(NASDAQ:LIHR - News) ("LGL") announces that it is to initiate the sale of the Ballarat gold mine in Victoria after completing a review of the project over recent months.

The review has concluded that despite encouraging results from ongoing exploration activities in the north of the Ballarat gold field, the project would be unlikely to achieve the scale required to fit within the LGL portfolio.

A reassessment of historical mining records and more recent mining experience has determined that the project will not sustain large scale bulk mining techniques, with production unlikely to exceed 100,000 ounces per year.

Consequently, underground development activity has been reduced from today. Total staff numbers therefore will be reduced to approximately 100 in order to maintain operations during a transition to new ownership.

LGL has received expressions of interest from a number of potential acquirers, which will be further pursued in coming weeks. The sale process is expected to be completed early in the New Year.

LGL Managing Director Arthur Hood said the Ballarat project continued to provide significant opportunity for smaller scale production.

"However, LGL has a stated strategy of pursuing larger scale, low cost operations," he said. "The Ballarat project unfortunately will not fit our preferred investment criteria. The disposal of the asset will enable management to focus on growth opportunities being developed in West Africa and at our Lihir Island operations in PNG," he said.

"I would like to thank the employees at Ballarat for their efforts over recent months and the Ballarat community members for their strong support. LGL will be making every effort to preserve as many jobs as possible during the sale process, while reducing cash costs," he said.

As previously advised, total production at Ballarat in the current year is expected to be up to 20,000 ounces and the forthcoming interim profit results will include an impairment charge associated with the Ballarat assets in the range of US$250-350 million after tax.

Overall expected LGL group gold production in the current year remains unchanged at between 1 million and 1.2 million ounces.

The second quarter production report will be released on July 30.

 
Contacts:
Lihir Gold Ltd (Brisbane)
Josie Brophy
Corporate Communications Manager
+61 448 177 502
Lihir Gold Ltd (Brisbane)
Joel Forwood
Manager Investor Relations
+61 7 3318 3317
Lihir Gold Ltd (Toronto)
Greg W Taylor
(905) 337-7673 / Mobile: (416) 605-5120
gtaylor@g-tinvestorrelations.com