Nevsun Resources Ltd., (NSU-TSX/NYSE AMEX) has announced the financial closing of debt facilities totaling $235 million for its Bisha gold-silver-copper-zinc Project in Eritrea (the “Project”). All amounts are expressed in United States dollars.

A debt package totaling $235 million has been arranged for Bisha Mining Share Company (“BMSC”) to complete its funding arrangements to develop the Project.

The debt package is a mix of senior and subordinated loans from a lending group comprised of seven institutions (“Lenders”) from Europe and South Africa.

The arrangements include an available cost over-run facility of $30 million that will be in addition to a contingency allowance of $32 million in the Project Cost Budget (“Budget”). The Project is now more than one third completed, and the forecast cost to complete remains on Budget.

CEO, Cliff Davis, stated “It is a tribute to the strength and quality of the Project and the support of the country that even during difficult financial markets we have managed to arrange a significant debt package to fully complete Eritrea’s first modern day major mining project.

This accomplishment has been a collaborative effort between Nevsun and our partner, the Eritrean National Mining Corporation, our current and past staff and advisors and ultimately only made possible through the support of the governments of Eritrea, Germany and South Africa. We naturally also thank the Lenders for their contribution to make this happen and look forward to their continued support.”

Summary of Estimated Project Costs and Funding:

Pre production costs:

Historic property related costs $29million (exploration, pre-development, etc)

Pre production project costs 220 million

Contingency allowance 32 million

Cost overrun allowance 30 million (management does not expect to incur)

Pre production finance costs 44 million (includes interest, fees and a small hedge per below)

$355 million

Funded by:

Nevsun and State of Eritrea $120 million

Senior debt 125 million

Subordinated debt 80 million

Senior cost overrun 30 million (management does not expect to utilize)

$355 million

Utilization of the debt facilities is expected in the next few weeks after certain conditions are met, including the registration of security, final letters from governments and final insurance arrangements.

In connection with the debt facilities the Company is required to establish a gold price protection programme in the unlikely event that the price of gold falls below $700/oz. The programme is a purchase of gold puts of 200,000 ounces for the first two years of production. This ensures the Project benefits from not only the floor price of $700/oz, but also 100% of all gold prices higher than $700/oz.

The debt facilities are secured by BMSC and all of its assets, as well as by a completion guarantee from each of Nevsun and the Eritrean National Mining Corporation, to their respective contributing interests.

Endeavour Financial is the Company’s project finance advisor.

At recent metal prices, the Project is expected to generate enough cash in the first two and a half years to repay all debt facilities, as well as fund the copper phase mine expansion. The projected operating cash costs for gold production are estimated to be less than $230/oz, including royalties. The after tax internal rate of return of the Project, using recent metal prices and including the cost of finance, is approximately 54%.

The mine is expected to start producing gold in Q3 2010. A recent update on the Project itself can be found in the Company’s Q1 MD&A and news release dated May 13, 2009. Photographs of progress can be found on the Nevsun web site at – http://www.nevsun.com/properties/photo_gallery/.

The Company looks forward to progressing Bisha through to production with the continued full support of the Eritrean Government.