First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Announces the Closing of the Incentive Invitation for Convertible Bonds Due 2014

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Aug. 4, 2011) -

(All figures expressed in US dollars, unless otherwise noted)

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or the "Company") (TSX:FM)(LSE:FQM) is pleased to announce the closing of its Incentive Invitation for its $500,000,000, 6% Convertible Bonds due 2014 (the "Bonds") that was made on July 27, 2011 and which expired on July 28, 2011 (the "Incentive Invitation").

Based upon the acceptance of $499,900,000 in principal amount of Bonds for conversion, the total incentive payment on the Bonds is $40,436,461.09, the total conversion price adjustment payment is $7,051,989.32 and the total accrued interest payable in respect of the converted Bonds is $3,249,350.00.

In addition, 8,955,547 new common shares (the "Converted Shares") in the capital of First Quantum have been issued in connection with the converted Bonds.

First Quantum has made an application to the London Stock Exchange for the admission of the Converted Shares to trading on the Official List and the Converted Shares will be admitted to the Official List at 8.00 a.m. (BST) on August 5, 2011.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, exchange or transfer the securities of the Company. The value of the Common Shares can go down as well as up and past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide for future performance.

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 constitutes "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 Autorité des marchés financiers in Quebec, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the London Stock Exchange.