February 3, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oscar L. Groeneveld Named New ICA Chairman

New York - The board of the International Copper Association, Ltd. named Oscar L. Groeneveld Chairman of ICA. Mr. Groeneveld's December appointment came in response to former Association Chairman Milton Ward's resignation following the acquisition Cypus Amax by Phelps Dodge.

Mr. Groeneveld joins ICA as it embarks on a new five-year stategic plan to pursue market development programs around the world.

Groeneveld is Chief Executive of the Rio Tinto Copper Group which he joined in 1975. He transferred to Rio Tinto's London office in April 1996 to become Group Mining Executive where his responsibilities included operations in Chile, Brazil, South Africa, Columbia and the USA.

In 1997, following the restructure of the organization, Groeneveld was appointed Head of Technology and subsequently appointed Director to the Rio Tinto Board in June 1998. In 1999, Groenveld was appointed Chief Executive of the Rio Tinto Copper Group.

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Contact: Michael Hennelly,
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E-mail: mhennelly@copper.org

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