NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN, OR INTO, THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, RUSSIA OR JAPAN

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, ANY SECURITIES (THE "SHARES") OF IRC LIMITED ("IRC") IN THE UNITED STATES OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTIONS OR AN INVITATION TO ENGAGE IN ANY INVESTMENT ACTIVITY WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES OR INVESTMENTS OF ANY KIND.

THE SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

IRC HAS NOT AND DOES NOT INTEND TO MAKE ANY PUBLIC OFFER OF THE SHARES IN THE UNITED STATES.

8 October 2010

PETROPAVLOVSK PLC

Progress of proposed listing of Non-Precious Metals Division in Hong Kong

The Board of Petropavlovsk PLC ("Petropavlovsk", the "Company" or the "Group") refers to its announcement on 29 September 2010, setting out certain details of the Global Offering and proposed listing on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("HKEx") of shares in the Groups subsidiary, IRC Limited ("IRC"), the holding company of the Non-Precious Metals Division of the Group (the "Proposed Listing").

The Hong Kong retail offer was over-subscribed.

The total demand from investors exceeded IRCs minimum requirements for the shares to be issued by it, but did not meet the Companys highest expectations.

The Group therefore intends to alter the terms of the Global Offering.  IRC expects to publish a supplemental prospectus in Hong Kong which would result in a short delay in the timetable.

A further announcement will be published upon registration of a supplemental prospectus in Hong Kong.

Enquiries:

The material set forth herein is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the laws of any state, and may not be offered or sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

No public offering of securities will be made in the United States.

Some statements contained in this release or referred to in it are, or may be, forwardlooking statements.

Actual results may differ from those expressed in such statements, depending on a variety of factors.

The material set forth herein is not an offer, or an invitation to make offers, sell, purchase, exchange or transfer any securities in Russia or to or for the benefit of any Russian person, and does not constitute an advertisement or offering of the securities in Russia within the meaning of Russian securities laws and must not be passed on to third parties or otherwise be made publicly available in Russia.

The securities to which this material relates have not been and will not be registered in Russia or admitted to public placement and/or public circulation in Russia and are not intended for "offering", "placement" or "circulation" in Russia (each as defined in Russian securities laws).

In connection with the listing, the price of IRC shares may be stabilised in accordance with the Securities and Futures (Price Stabilizing) Rules (Cap.

571W of the Laws of Hong Kong).

Details of any intended stabilisation and how it will be regulated under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.

571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) will be contained in the prospectus to be published by IRC.