RNS Number : 4810E
  Persian Gold PLC
  29 September 2008
   


    29 September 2008

    Persian Gold PLC

    Interim Results for the Six Months Ended 30th June 2008

    Persian Gold, the Irish explorer, continues as one of the only, if not the only, Western mining exploration companies active in Iran.
The potential in Iran is vast. The country is big, over 2,000km long and underexplored, with little done in the past 30 years. 

    The principal geological attraction in Iran is the Tethyan Belt stretching in an arc from Turkey through Iran into Pakistan. Modern
geological modelling indicates that this belt has potential for gold, base metals and copper/gold porphyry orebodies. A number of large gold
mines have been recently brought on stream in neighbouring Turkey while the largest copper/gold porphyry deposit in the world, Reko Diq, on
the Iran/Pakistan border is being developed by Antofagasta and Barrick Gold. Yet, little is happening in Iran.



    Persian Gold entered Iran in 2004 following a specific gold in silica-alunite exploration model. Iran has the second largest deposits of
alunite in the world. Elsewhere in recent years, a number of world class gold mines processing silica-alunite have opened in the Andes. We
are looking to replicate this success. We continue to hold licences in the Takestan area of Iran, where the focus is gold in silica-alunite.
But once we were established in the country, other projects were offered. We are currently focused on two gold projects, Chah-e-Zard and
Dalli, but we have a number of others under evaluation.

    Dalli
    The current focus of activity is at Dalli, located some 200km southwest of Tehran, where a second stage drilling programme has been
finalised. In total 8 holes have been drilled to a total depth of 2,494m, as well as 16 trenches covering 1,513m from which 2,030 samples
were collected and sent for analysis.

    We now believe there to be two orebodies at Dalli, the North and South Hills, separated by 1.7km. The indications are that the North
Hill is predominantly a gold deposit while the South is a copper/gold porphyry. The first phase drilling on the North Hill produced
marginally economic grades so it was decided to focus on the South Hill where the second stage drilling took place. Results are not yet
available but visual inspection of the drill core combined with the assay results of the earlier drilling suggests that the grades of copper
and gold could be quite variable within the mineralised orebody. The style and grade of mineralisation at South Hill is significant and
warrants a regional search of the surrounding area to identify similar systems. This study will use Aster interpretation, rock sampling,
soil geochemistry and surface IP geophysical survey.

    Chah-e-Zard
    The Chah-e-Zard prospect is located 550km southeast of Tehran. Results from phase 1 trenching and drilling led to a second phase of
shallow drilling focused on the Southern lobe of the sampled area. To date, 38 holes, totalling 4,150m have been drilled and 38 trenches
totalling 3,545m dug. Almost 3,000 drill core samples and 1,409 trench samples were analysed. All of the surface and drill hole data was put
into a three dimensional model covering the Southern lobe to determine the near surface resources of gold and silver. The model indicates
160,000 ounces of gold and 1 million ounces of silver. It must be emphasised that this estimate is only near surface Southern lobe. An early
stage scoping study suggests that an open cast heap leach operation may be economic. With our local 30 per cent partner, we have applied
for, and await, a Discovery Certificate before initiating a pre-feasibility study.

    It is important to note that the project outlined above relates to a small portion of the 750m by 1.25km mineralised zone previously
identified by extensive soil sampling. The potential at depth over the entire area remains open.

    Other Projects
    Several new projects, almost all gold/copper were presented to Persian Gold. We are limited by finance and people on the number of
projects we can handle at any one time. Large potential projects such as Shadan in eastern Iran were deemed too big for Persian Gold.
Currently, projects in Zonouz, Ghahan, Angoran-Chay and Khoineroud are under review.

    Approaches have been made to Persian Gold to examine exploration projects in areas adjacent to Iran, such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

    Future
    The continuous diatribe against Iran from the West has an adverse effect. Threats of war frighten investors. They sell into a market
with no buyers. In one small deal in recent months, the market capitalisation of Persian Gold was halved. The recent collapse in world stock
markets bodes badly for AIM. Cash will be hard to raise, even for the best projects. However, it is uncertain times that produce great
opportunities. We are alone in Iran with a choice of high class projects. We expect to move forward with at least one of our current
projects as well as acquiring new ventures. We are looking at options on how to finance these activities.

    John Teeling
    Chairman

    29 September 2008

    Enquiries:

 Persian Gold PLC
 John Teeling, Executive Chairman  +353 (0) 1 8332833

 College Hill
 Paddy Blewer                      +44 (0) 20 7457 2020
 Nick Elwes

 Blue Oar Securities Plc
 Simon Moynagh                     +44 (0) 1179 330 020
 John Wakefield

      

 Financial Information (Unaudited)                                                      
                                                                  Six Months Ended        Yr Ended
                                                              30 June 08    30 June 07    31 Dec 07
                                                              unaudited     unaudited      audited
 Condensed Consolidated Income Statement                        �'000         �'000         �'000
                                                                                        
 Revenue                                                               0             0            0
 Operating Costs                                                   (192)         (162)        (396)
                                                                                        
 Operating Loss                                                    (192)         (162)        (396)
 Interest Receivable                                                  4             6           17 
                                                                                        
 Loss on ordinary activities before taxation                       (188)         (156)        (379)
 Taxation                                                             0             0            0 
                                                                                        
 Loss for the period                                               (188)         (156)        (379)
                                                                                        
 Loss per share                                                   (.30p)        (.28p)       (.66p)
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet                         30 June 08    30 June 07    31 Dec 07
                                                              unaudited     unaudited      audited
                                                                �'000         �'000         �'000
 Assets                                                                                 
 Intangible Assets                                                 1,474           921        1,283
                                                                                        
 Current Assets                                                                         
 Other receivables and                                                12             5           20
 prepayments                                                                            
 Cash and cash equivalents                                           278           115          693
 Total Current Assets                                                290           120          713
                                                                                        
 Total Assets                                                      1,764         1,041        1,996
                                                                                        
 Liabilities                                                                            
 Current Liabilities                                                                    
 Trade and other payables                                          (228)         (265)        (272)
                                                                                        
 Non-current Liabilities                                                                
 Provisions                                                         (10)             0         (10)
 Total Liabilities                                                 (238)         (265)        (282)
                                                                                        
 Net Assets                                                        1,526           776        1,714
                                                                                        
 Equity                                                                                 
 Share Capital and Reserves                                        1,526           776        1,714
                                                                                        
 Total Equity                                                      1,526           776        1,714
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders Equity                     
                                                                                        
                                                    Six Months Ended 30 June 08
                                     Share          Share       Other        Retained       Total
                                    Capital        Premium     Reserves       Losses       Equity
                                     �'000          �'000       �'000         �'000         �'000
                                                                                        
 As at 1 January 2007                       140      1,246            55         (509)          932
 Share option costs recognised in reserves                                                        0
 Shares issued                                                                                    0
 Share issue expenses                                                                             0
 Loss for the period                                                             (156)        (156)
 As at 30 June 2007                         140      1,246            55         (665)          776
                                                                                        
 Share option costs recognised in reserves                            75                         75
 Shares issued                               18      1,122                                     1140
 Share issue expenses                                 (54)                                     (54)
 Loss for the period                                                             (223)        (223)
 As at 31 December 2007                     158      2,314           130         (888)        1,714
                                                                                        
 Share option costs recognised in reserves                                                        0
 Shares issued                                                                                    0
 Share premium on shares issued                                                                   0
 Loss for the period                                                             (188)        (188)
 As at 30 June 2008                         158      2,314           130       (1,076)        1,526
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                  Six Months Ended        Yr Ended
                                                              30 June 08    30 June 07    31 Dec 07
                                                              unaudited     unaudited      audited
 Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow                               �'000         �'000         �'000
                                                                                        
 Cash flows from operating activities                                                   
 Operating Loss                                                    (192)         (162)        (396)
 Movements in Working Capital                                       (36)           63          115 
 Net Cash Outflow from Operating Activities                        (228)          (99)        (281)
                                                                                        
 Cash Flow from Investing Activities                                                    
 Returns on Investments and Servicing of                              4             6           17 
 Finance                                                                                
 Capital Expenditure                                               (191)         (101)        (439)
 Net Cash used in Investing Activities                             (187)          (95)        (422)
                                                                                        
 Financing Activities                                                                   
 Proceeds from issue of equity                                        0             0        1,087 
 shares                                                                                 
                                                                                        
 Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents                         (415)         (194)         384 
                                                                                        
 Cash and Cash Equivalents at beginning of the period               693           309          309 
                                                                                        
 Cash and Cash Equivalents at end of the period                     278           115          693 


      Notes: 

    1. Information

    The financial information for the six months ended June 30th, 2008 and June 30th, 2007 is unaudited. The financial information above
does not constitute full statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.

    The interim financial report has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting and the accounting policies and
methods of computation used in the interim financial statements are consistent with those used in the Group 2007 Annual Report, which is
available at www.persiangoldplc.com

    The interim financial statements have not been audited or reviewed by the auditors of the Group pursuant to the Auditing Practices board
guidance on Review of Interim Financial Information.

    No dividend is proposed in respect of the period.

    2. Loss per Share

                                      30 June 08       30 June 07        31 Dec 07
                                               �                �                �
 Loss per share - Basic and              (0.30p)          (0.28p)          (0.66p)
 Diluted
                                                                                  

 Basic loss per share

 The earnings and weighted
 average number of ordinary
 shares used in the calculation
 of basic loss per share are as
 follows:

 Loss for the year attributable
 to equity holders of the              (188,291)        (156,272)        (379,383)
 Parent
                                                                                  

 Weighted average number of           63,412,198       55,802,800       57,720,785
 ordinary shares for the
 purpose of basic earnings per
 share
                                                                                  


    3. Intangible Assets

                                     30 June 08      30 June 07       31 Dec 07
 Exploration and evaluation               �'000           �'000           �'000
 assets:
 Cost at 1 January                        1,283             819             819
 Additions                                  191             102             464
                                      _________       _________       _________
 Cost and net book value                  1,474             921           1,283
                                                                               

    Exploration and evaluation assets relates to expenditure incurred during prospecting, exploring for gold and related expenditure in
Iran.

    All intangible assets held by the group to date are at an early stage of exploration, but all present indications, including those from
feasibility reports produced during 2007 are that it will have a value in excess of the accumulated costs to date. No impairment provision
has been made in respect of these intangible assets.

    The group's activities are subject to a number of significant potential risks including:

    - Price fluctuations
    - Uncertainties over development and operational costs
    - Operational and environmental risks
    - Political and legal risks, including arrangements with governments for licences, 
    profit sharing and taxation
    - Availability of funding developments

    The realisation of this intangible asset is dependent on the successful discovery and development of economic mineral reserves which is
affected by these and other risks. Should this prove unsuccessful the value included in the balance sheet would be written off to the income
statement.

    The directors are aware that by its nature there is an inherent uncertainty in such development expenditure as to the value of the
asset. Having reviewed the deferred exploration and evaluation development expenditure at 30 June 2008, the directors are satisfied that the
value of the intangible asset is not less than carrying net book value.

    4. The Interim Report for the six months to June 30th, 2008 was approved by the Directors on 29 September 2008.

    5. Copies of this announcement will be sent to shareholders and will be available for inspection at the Companies Registered Office at
20-22 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4JS. The Interim Report may also be viewed at Persian Gold plc's website at www.persiangoldplc.com.


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The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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