SRK has designed the mine based around a fully mechanised operation with an inclined 1,250m ramp access from the base of a box cut located to the south east of the orebody. Excavation of the box cut commenced early July 2006. The ramp will have dimensions of 5m by 5m and be driven at an angel of -15%.

The orebody will be stoped by a sub level caving method using a 20m level interval. Up hole drilling and subsequent blasting from the extraction levels will be followed by mucking with 5m³ scooptrams into 45 tonne capacity low profile haul trucks for transport to surface. Ventilation is provided by two shafts to the 220m level and heating of the air during winter months is provided by electrical heaters. The shaft will be equipped with a mechanical lift to provide emergency egress. In order to meet Kazakh regulatory requirements this shaft will be supplemented by an additional shaft early in 2008.

SRK has designed the mine operations utilising Earthworks Mine2-4D software which allows for all development driveage and ore production tonnages to be scheduled throughout the mine life. Estimated total lateral development for the life of mine is 36,000m. The Probable Reserve, based on the Indicated Resource, allowing for mining recovery losses of 10% and a dilution factor of 18% at zero grade is 18.3 million tonnes at 40.3% Cr₂O­_3, giving a mine operational life of 14 years from this part of the deposit. ROM production is planned at 1.3 million tonnes per annum with first chrome ore sales planned for Q2 2008.

In April 2005 Oriel initiated a comprehensive diamond drilling campaign on Voskhod, monitored in its entirety by SRK personnel, to confirm previous assay data and to provide geotechnical and hydrogeological information for mine design development. Ore intersections confirmed the tenure of the deposit and assay results were consistent with historical values.

Mined grades delivered to the beneficiation plant have been estimated at 43.7% Cr₂O₃ after mine recovery and dilution factors have been applied. Mintek has provided process options to produce a number of saleable chromite ore products. The plant would comprise crushing, milling, dense media separation and gravity concentration units with sufficient flexibility to allow high grade ore to be crushed and screened to form a metallurgical ‘lumpy’ product should selective ore mining prove feasible.

It is expected that the proposed plant will be able to produce two products, namely a metallurgical ‘lumpy’ product grading approximately 49% Cr₂O₃ and a metallurgical fines concentrate grading approximately 55% Cr₂O₃. Estimated total annual sales are expected to be in the order of 511,000 tons split approximately as to 322,000 tons for the ‘lumpy’ material and 189,000 tons for the fines concentrate.

Oriel is continuing drilling into 2007 to better delineate initial stoping area. A total of approximately 3000m of HQ triple tube is ear-marked to be drilled for geo-technical and resource delineation.

A full management team from Oriel is in place to oversee all aspects of the project construction phase.