HGM.L Regulatory News (HGM)

7 Sep 2006 12:49

Highland Gold Mining Limited07 September 2006 Highland Gold Mining Limited ("the Company") 7th September 2006 - A fire had broken out at about 07h00 (Moscow time) in theunderground part of the Central shaft at the Darasun mining complex in Chita,South Eastern Siberia. The exact cause of the fire has yet to be established butaccording to first reports, it was caused by welding works being undertaken inthe shaft. At the time of this announcement thirty one of sixty four employees working inthe shaft and in the mining areas have been evacuated. Several rescue teamsbelonging to the Ministry of Emergency Situations as well as the Company's ownlocal emergency units are working to evacuate the miners remaining undergroundand to contain and extinguish the fire. An emergency and communication centre has been set up at the local office of theDarasun mine, as well as in the Moscow Office of Russdragmet, the managingcompany operating the Darasun complex. Ivan Koulakov, Deputy Chairman of Highland Gold Mining Limited and variousmining and safety specialists from Russdragmet will be flying to Darasun tonightto assist in the rescue operation. The Company will continue to release information as it becomes available. Contacts; Henry Horne, CEO or Dmitry Yakushkin, Communications DirectorTel: + 7 495 777 3155 (Moscow) Dominic Palmer-Tompkinson, Investor Relations Tel: +44 (0) 207 851 6400 (London) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange