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Riversdale Mining [ASX: RIV] - Quarterly Report December 2009

Riversdale Mining (ASX: RIV) reports on a busy quarter ending 31 December 2009.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Benga Coal Project (Riversdale 65%)
* Riversdale and Tata Steel have approved development of Stage 1 at a cost of US$270 million, excluding working capital.
* Development is based on a Feasibility Study which has been completed by the joint venture parties.
* Approval for the Environmental Impact Study (�EIS�) on the project has been granted by the Minist�rio para a Coordena��o da Ac��o Ambiental (�MICOA�), the regulatory authority for environment within the Government of Mozambique.
* The EIS approval is in respect of Riversdale�s long term plan for a 20 million tonne per year coking and thermal coal project.
* Orders have been placed for longlead equipment.

Benga Power Plant
* Approval for the Benga Power Plant (�BPP�) EIS granted by MICOA.
* Riversdale has received confirmation of access to the existing Mozambique power transmission network.
* The Benga Coal Project will supply thermal coal to the power plant.
* Discussions are continuing with potential offtake and development parties.

Zambeze Project Coal Resource EPL946L (Riversdale 100%)
* Drilling on EPL946L delivers an Indicated Coal Resource of 1.70 billion tonnes.
* This represents a second project for Riversdale and adds to the existing 4.0 billion tonne Coal Resource on the 65% owned Benga Coal Project.
* Various development alternatives are being evaluated.
* Products comprise hard coking coal and thermal coal.
* The government has granted a lease extension for a further 3 years.

Exploration in Mozambique
* Reconnaissance drilling is under way on licences in the Tete, Changara and Cahora Bassa areas.
* A number of promising prospects have been identified by drilling on the Changara leases west of Tete.



Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC)
* ROM production for the December quarter was 184,524 tonnes, a decrease of 27,722 tonnes on the September quarter.
* Saleable production totalled 162,074 tonnes for the December quarter.
* Product sales were 204,519 tonnes, the highest since the June 2007 quarter as market conditions improve.
* The Western Extension is now fully operational.

Corporate
* Cash on hand was A$258 million at 31 December 2009.

Please find details by visiting:
http://www.riversdalemining.com.au/media/announcements/2008/RIV_Quarterly_Dec09_-_MASTER.pdf

For further information, please contact:

Michael O�Keeffe
Executive Chairman
P: +61 2 8299 7900

Steve Mallyon
Managing Director
P: +61 2 8299 7900

Niall Lenahan
Company Secretary
P: +61 2 8299 7900

Bill Kemmery
Media: Fortbridge
P: +612 9331 0655
M: +61 400 122 449
E: