Nautilus Minerals has lodged 18 prospecting licence applications within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Kingdom of Tonga, and a further two Special Prospecting Licences within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Fiji.

The applications cover a combined area of approximately 90,000sqkm

Nautilus Mineals president David Heydon says the Tongan and Fijian applications cover major crustal structures and have been the subject of study by marine scientific researchers over the past 15 years with a number of high grade systems identified by these groups within the application areas.

"The applications further emphasize Nautilus' strategic "first mover advantage" and offer our shareholders exciting exploration potential along with our prospective 186,000sqkm Papua New Guinea tenement and tenement application package," David Heydon says.

"We look forward to the grant of these licences during 2007 and the initiation of aggressive exploration programs using the knowledge gained from our work to date in PNG and strategic technical alliances we have put in place with Teck Cominco and Anglo American."

Approximately half of the licences are covered by the recent Teck Cominco deal announced in December last year and therefore may be subject to joint venture with Teck Cominco.