Chelyabinsk, Russia – January 23, 2009 –Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant (LSE: CHZN, RTS: CHZN), Russia’s largest producer of zinc and zinc alloys, is pleased to announce its production results for the twelve months period of 2008.January through December 2008, Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant (CZP) produced 166,064 tonnes of SHG zinc and zinc based alloys, an increase of 0.6% as compared to the same period of 2007 (165,007 tonnes). 51.5% of zinc sales (by tonnage) were made on the domestic market.

CZP’s subsidiary, Nova Zinc LLC, operator of Akzhal zinc and lead mine in Kazakhstan, processed 1330,5 thousand tonnes of ore in January – December of 2008, 3.8% more than for the same period of 2007 (1281,8 thousand tonnes). Average zinc content in the ore for the twelve months of 2008 was 2.67% with average lead content of 0.54%, compared to 2.54% and 0.46% respectively a year ago. Production of zinc in zinc concentrate for the twelve months of 2008 increased 7.8% to 32,348 tonnes over the prior year result of the same period of 30,002 tonnes. Lead in lead concentrate production increased by 20% to 5,747 tonnes (vs. 4,785 tonnes in January – December of 2007).

CZP’s subsidiary, The Brock Metal Company Limited (the leading UK supplier of zinc and aluminum die-casting alloys) sold 25,470 tonnes of products January through December 2008, 14.6% less than for the same period of 2007 (29,823 tonnes).