Antofagasta plc (the "Company") announces that Mr. Hugo Dryland has notified the Board of his intention to retire from his role as Non-Executive Director of the Company and that Mrs. Francisca Castro was appointed a Non-Executive Director of the Company by the Board on 25 October 2016. Both changes will take effect from 1 November 2016.

Mr. Jean-Paul Luksic, Chairman, said on behalf of the Board, “Hugo has been a Director since 2011 and the Board has benefited from his considerable experience and his valuable insights and guidance on a wide range of matters. On behalf of the Board and the entire Company, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Hugo for his service, and to acknowledge his contribution to the Company during this time.”

Mrs. Castro has more than 25 years’ experience in several industries, including mining, energy, finance and public/private infrastructure projects in the USA and in Chile. Prior to her appointment to Antofagasta’s Board, Mrs. Castro spent eight years at Codelco, most recently leading the company’s Business Development function. Before joining Codelco she spent 10 years working in various roles in the Chilean Government. Mrs. Castro began her career at the World Bank where she was based in Washington DC for five years.

Mr. Jean-Paul Luksic further said: “On behalf of the Board, we are very pleased that Francisca has accepted our invitation to join the Board as a Non-Executive Director. She brings extensive Chilean and international experience across the mining, energy and finance sectors and I know her knowledge and expertise will be of great benefit to Antofagasta.”

For the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code, Mrs. Castro is considered by the Board to be independent. Save as disclosed above, there are no further disclosures under Listing Rule 9.6.13(1) to (6) required in respect of Mrs. Castro.

Notes to Editors

Mrs. Francisca Castro – full biography

Mrs. Castro, age 54, has over 25 years working in mining, energy, finance and public/private infrastructure projects in the USA and in Chile.

From 2007 to 2015 Mrs. Castro worked at Codelco, where she most recently led the company’s Business Development function. Between 1997 and 2007, she worked in various roles within the Chilean Government, including in the Treasury, on a committee responsible for the evaluation of management and corporate governance of companies in the public sector, and in the Ministry for Public Works. She began her career at the World Bank in Washington DC, where she worked from 1991 to 1996.

Mrs. Castro has extensive Board experience, having previously been a Director of Sociedad GNL Mejillones S.A., Complejo Portuario Mejillones S.A., Ecometales Limited, SCM El Abra and Inversiones Mineras Acrux SpA. She has also previously served as a Director and Chairman of the audit committees of ENAMI and Polla Chilena de Beneficencia.

Mrs. Castro has an economics degree from the University of Chile and post-graduate studies in finance at the World Bank in Washington DC. She is based in Santiago and is a Chilean citizen.

Investors – London                                                                                                                                                                                         
Andrew Lindsay        alindsay@antofagasta.co.uk
Paresh Bhanderi        pbhanderi@antofagasta.co.uk
Telephone                 +44 20 7808 0988

Media (Brunswick)
Carole Cable            antofagasta@brunswickgroup.com
Will Medvei             antofagasta@brunswickgroup.com
Telephone                +44 20 7404 5959

Investors – Santiago
Alfredo Atucha           aatucha@aminerals.cl
Telephone                  +56 2 2798 7000

Media – Santiago 
Pablo Orozco            porozco@aminerals.cl
Carolina Pica            cpica@aminerals.cl
Telephone                +56 2 2798 7000