First Quantum to Release First Quarter 2012 Financial and Operating Results on May 2, 2012

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 04/17/12 -- First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or the "Company") (TSX: FM)(LSE: FQM) will publish its first quarter 2012 financial and operating results on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 after the close of the TSX. The Company's President, Clive Newall, will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Thursday, May 3, 2012.

Conference call and webcast details are as follows:

Date:             May 3, 2012
Time:             6:00 am (PST); 9:00 am (EST); 2:00 pm (BST)
Webcast:          www.first-quantum.com
Dial in:          Canada and international: 416-340-8530
                  Toll free North America: 877-440-9795
                  Toll free United Kingdom: 00-800-2787-2090

Replay:           Canada and international: 905-694-9451
                  Toll free North America: 800-408-3053
Replay Passcode:  7804406

The conference call replay will be available until 11:59 pm (PST) on May 10, 2012.

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

G. Clive Newall, President

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Listed in Standard and Poor's

Contacts:

First Quantum Minerals Ltd. - North American contact

Sharon Loung

Director, Investor Relations

(647) 346-3934 or Toll Free: 1 (888) 688-6577

(604) 688-3818 (FAX)
sharon.loung@fqml.com


First Quantum Minerals Ltd. - United Kingdom contacts

Clive Newall

President

+44 140 327 3484

+44 140 327 3494 (FAX)
clive.newall@fqml.com
www.first-quantum.com


Maitland

Brian Cattell/James Devas

+44 207 379 5151

+44 20 7379 6161 (FAX)
jdevas@maitland.co.uk
bcattell@maitland.co.uk