Altyngold Regulatory News (ALTN)

12 Feb 2008 13:52

Hambledon Mining PLC12 February 2008 HAMBLEDON MINING PLC (AIM: HMB) Boiler accident at Sekisovskoye Hambledon Mining plc ("Hambledon" or the "Group" or the "Company"), theAIM-listed gold mining and processing company operating in Kazakhstan, regretsto announce that this morning the eluate heating boiler in the desorptioncircuit at its process plant at the gold mine at Sekisovskoye ruptured,regrettably resulting in the death of one employee. The boiler is a standard piece of equipment and was used in the gold strippingarea of the processing circuit where the gold is removed from the loaded carbonby passing a heated solution of cyanide and sodium hydroxide through the carboncolumn. Damage to the process plant was minimal with only the boiler itselfsuffering major damage. No solutions were lost and no environmental pollutionoccurred. The plant, which had been operating normally, has been stopped whilst the causeof the explosion is investigated. A further announcement will be made as soon aspossible. Enquiries Hambledon Mining plcNicholas Bridgen, Chief Executive Telephone: +44 7791 327180 Bankside ConsultantsMichael Padley Telephone: +44 20 7367 8888 Seymour PierceNicola Marrin Telephone: +44 20 7107 8000 Note to editors Hambledon Mining plc is an AIM-listed gold mining and exploration company, whichis operating the Sekisovskoye gold mine and the Ognevka processing plant, bothof which are close to Ust Kamenogorsk in East Kazakhstan. At Sekisovskoye, the Company is mining from an open pit and has constructed an850,000 tonnes per year treatment plant. Production from the open pit willaverage over 40,000 ounces per annum. After the start of open pit processing,the Company plans to develop the much larger underground resource that isexpected to lead to a combined production rate of around 100,000 ounces peryear. The Ognevka processing plant is producing concentrates containing gold, silver,copper, iron and coke from the re-treatment of zinc smelter residues. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange