Delayed Progress on Construction of the DMS Plant, Spirals Bank and Ancillary Plant Equipment at the Luisha South Project, Katanga Provence, Democratic Republic of Congo

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 12/30/11 -- Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this Press Release.

African Metals Corporation (TSX VENTURE: AFR) (FRANKFURT: OWW) ('AFR') reports a delay in progress of the construction of the Dense Media Separation (DMS) plant, spirals bank and ancillary equipment (the DMS Plant) at the Luisha South Project.

Construction

M&J Investments Sprl ('M&J') have progressed construction of the DMS Plant at the Luisha South Project (Photo 1). The feed bin, primary crusher, control units and generator are in place, and assembly of the spirals bank and conveyor belt modules completed. The placement of the DMS module and scrubber module onto their respective concrete pads and final positioning of conveyor belt units between modules was delayed significantly due to prime mover rig availability and heavy downpours with the onset of the wet season. It is expected that final assembly of all conveyor belts and electrical fit out will continue into early January. Site drainage works are ongoing.

Delays

The national elections produced delays in assembly of the plant with key expatriate contractor personnel temporarily leaving the country after reports of violent confrontations between supporters of presidential candidates. The personnel returned after the political situation stabilised with the re-election of Mr. Kabila as President. Seasonal rain storms continued to cause delays in the concreting and plant assembly programs, with the placement of the DMS module and scrubber module onto their respective concrete pads delayed for several weeks due to the lack of availability of a prime mover suitable for towing in the wet access conditions.

Nigel Ferguson, CEO and President of African Metals Corp, commented:

'The Company is pleased to report good progress on construction of the DMS plant despite delays due to the onset of wet season weather and stability concerns during national presidential elections. The assembly-teams continue to strive to bring the plant into operation as soon as possible, which is now looking to be January 2012.'

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AFRICAN METALS CORPORATION

Nigel Ferguson, President & CEO

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This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements which relate to future events. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our industry, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested herein. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

About African Metals Corporation.

African Metals Corporation (TSX VENTURE: AFR) is a Canadian listed company focused on the discovery and development of Copper and Cobalt deposits in the highly mineralized Katanga Copper Belt of the world renowned Africa Copper Belt in the Democratic Republic of Congo ('DRC').

AFR purchased all the assets of Chevalier Resources Inc. in March 2010 including a 57% interest in the Luisha South Project contained within licence PEPM 4881, Katanga Provence, Democratic Republic of the Congo ('DRC') through subsidiaries incorporated in the DRC. In July AFR negotiated a further 18% interest in the project with the option to increase the equity interest to 90% based on results. The project is located 75 kilometres northwest of Lubumbashi, the capital of Katanga Province and consists of approximately 16.2km2.

The Luisha South Project includes a small historical open pit mine and associated stockpile and is underlain by Roan Group sediments which host major Cu-Co deposits in the DRC. The Luisha South ore body was explored between 1923 and 1928 and an oxide deposit with an estimated pre-production tonnage of approximately 350,000 tonnes at 8.6% Cu was delineated (the resource estimate non-compliant in terms of NI 43-101). The results of a 2,002 metre RC percussion drilling program completed by Titan Drilling Sprl in June 2010 enabled the estimation of a NI 43-101 compliant maiden Inferred Resource of 5.8 Million tonnes at 1.3% Cu for 75,400 tonnes of contained copper metal and 0.4% Co for 23,200 tonnes of contained cobalt metal (using 0.5% Cu cut-off). See the technical report of Geosure Exploration & Mining Solutions Pty Ltd, an independent firm contracted by AFR to prepare the technical report, dated November 15, 2010 and filed on www.sedar.com on December 2, 2010. Rubaco Sprl and DrillTek Sprl further combined to complete a total of 1,538.73 metres of diamond core drilling at the project in January 2011. The results of the drilling program enabled a re-estimation of the resource to produce a NI 43-101 compliant Inferred Resource of 14.7 Million tonnes at 1.1% Cu for 161,700 tonnes of contained copper metal and 0.3% Co for 44,100 tonnes of contained cobalt metal (using a 0.5% Cu cut-off). The revised resource represented an increase of 114% and 90% respectively of the previous contained copper and cobalt metal estimates. See the technical report of Geosure Exploration & Mining Solutions Pty Ltd., an independent firm contracted by AFR to prepare the technical report, dated October 10, 2011 and filed on www.sedar.com on October 17, 2011.

The Luisha South Project also covers some three kilometres of the Roan Group strike length which is favorable for Cu-Co mineralization.

Ronald J. Lawrence, MAIG, Vice President - Exploration for the Company and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this release.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEW RELEASE.

Contacts:

African Metals Corporation

Jag Sandhu

Corporate Development

604-306-1950
www.africanmetals.com