New Finance Director

RNS Number:1652O
Petra Diamonds Ld
31 July 2003


Press Release

31st July 2003


      Petra Diamonds Limited Announces the Appointment of Finance Director


Petra Diamonds Limited ("Petra" or "the Company"), the AIM quoted mining group,
has appointed David Gary Abery ACA (aged 40) as Finance Director with immediate
effect.  Mr Abery brings to Petra extensive experience as a Finance Director in
both the South African and UK business environments, as well as an in-depth
knowledge of AIM.

Most recently, Mr Abery was Finance Director of Mission Testing plc, the Gatwick
based software testing consultancy which he helped to successfully float on AIM
in December 2000 with a market capitalisation at the time of flotation of #35m.

Previously, he was Head of Finance for Tradepoint Financial Networks plc
(consequently renamed Virt-x plc), the high-tech electronic stock exchange which
was also quoted on AIM.

After qualifying with Coopers & Lybrand Jersey in 1989, Mr Abery spent 9 years
in South Africa before moving to London in 1998.  Whilst in Johannesburg, he
spent time in audit at Price Waterhouse and with South African Breweries as a
Finance Manager, followed by 5 years as Finance Director with Panasonic South
Africa.

Commenting on David Abery's appointment, Adonis Pouroulis, Chairman of Petra
Diamonds Ltd commented, "I am delighted that David is joining our team.  As
Petra expands to become a broader based mining company, David's experience of
AIM, together with his wide range of financial and commercial capabilities
gained in both the UK and South Africa, will help push the Company forward with
the exciting projects that we have in the pipeline.  Whilst Petra's management
has strong mining experience, David's appointment will strengthen the financial
side of the business, which will be important to the Company in the next stage
of its development."

Listed below are the names of companies with which Mr Abery has been a Director
at any time in the past five years:

Mission Testing plc
Mission Testing Europe Ltd
Panacape Office Automation (Pty) Ltd

Mr Abery is no longer a Director of any of the above companies.  There is no
further information to disclose under Schedule 2 paragraph (f) (ii) of the AIM
rules.


Ends

For further information, please contact:

Justine Howarth / Cathy Malins
Parkgreen Communications
Tel: [phone]


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
BOAZGGFNRGDGFZM