First Quantum Minerals Reports Record Copper Production in First Quarter 2008

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Apr 10 (MARKET WIRE) --
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or the "Company") (TSX:
FM)(LSE: FQM) announced that first quarter 2008 copper production was
75,600 tonnes, a 63% increase over the equivalent 2007 quarter and a
Company record for quarterly production.

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First Quarter
Operation (tonnes)
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Kansanshi 52,300
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Guelb Moghrein 7,700
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Frontier 13,400
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Bwana Mkubwa 2,200
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Total 75,600
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Stockpiles of copper concentrate at the end of the first quarter
totaled approximately 31,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate (Kansanshi
14,000 tonnes, Frontier 16,000 tonnes and Guelb Moghrein 1,000 tonnes),
an increase of over 12,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate over 2007 year
end inventories (18,296 tonnes of copper in concentrate).

Note: Production and stockpile numbers are preliminary and may be subject
to final adjustment.

Further information will be published in the Company's first quarter
operating and financial results.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of First Quantum Minerals Ltd.

G. Clive Newall, President

12g3-2b-82-4461

Listed in Standard and Poor's

Certain information contained in this news release are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information under applicable
Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements or
information, including but not limited to those with respect to the
prices of gold, copper, cobalt and sulphuric acid, estimated future
production, estimated costs of future production, the Company's hedging
policy and permitting time lines, involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements or information. Such factors include,
among others, the actual prices of copper, gold, cobalt and sulphuric
acid, the factual results of current exploration, development and mining
activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be
evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's documents
filed from time to time with the Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario
Securities Commissions, the Autorite des marches financiers in Quebec,
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the London Stock
Exchange.

Contacts:
First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
Clive Newall
President
+44 140 327 3484
+44 140 327 3494 (FAX)
Email: clive.newall@fqml.com
Website: www.first-quantum.com

Hogarth Partnership Ltd.
Harriet Pask or Sarah MacLeod
+44 (0) 20 7357 9477

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