Darasun Update

8 Sep 2006 15:54

Highland Gold Mining Limited08 September 2006 HIGHLAND GOLD MINING LIMITED IDENTIFICATION OF DECEASED MINERS UNDERWAY AT DARASUN MINE PRESS RELEASE 8 SEPTEMBER 2006 As of 1430hr Moscow time, the bodies of 11 miners have been brought to thesurface at Darasun mine and all have been identified. The eleven identified miners are: Name Date of Birth Profession Vladimir Kuzmich Aleksencev 20 Aug 1959 Shaft TimbermanNina Mihailovna Arsenteva 14 Oct 1954 Explosives StorekeeperSergey Vladimirovich Dimov 1 Dec 1971 Shafts ManagerMihail Viktorovich Lopanov 20 Jan 1965 WelderNadezhda Antonovna Plotnikova 7 Aug 1961 Magazine ManagerViktor Ivanovich Putnicev 7 Jan 1962 Shaft TimbermanNikolay Ivanovich Rychkov 27 Jan 1949 Chief Safety EngineerBronnikov S. M. 20 Aug 1955 MinerGalina Ivanovna Dobrovolskaya 20 Jul 1950 Pump OperatorNatalia Vladimirovna Runova 07 Feb 1977 Pump OperatorOleg Viktorovich Burdinsky 20 Aug 1955 Miner Twenty-two miners are still unaccounted for and the rescue operations continueunabated. The Deputy Chairman of Highland Gold Mining Ltd's Board of Directors, IvanKoulakov, said: "The most important issue at this point is to continue with therescue operations, which have been going on continuously for two days. We arehopeful that we will find survivors. Our specialists are working unabatedtogether with the teams from the Ministry for Emergency Situations andrepresentatives from the Chita Administration. We are grateful to all theEmergency Services personnel for their assistance and support". The Managing Director of Highland Gold Mining Ltd, Henry Horne, said: "The Boardof Directors, the Management and all our employees are in shock about thetragedy that happened at our Darasun Central Shaft. We will do our utmost toprovide all the necessary help and support to the families of the deceased. Ourprayers and thoughts are with the families and relatives of our deceasedcolleagues. We also have not given up on the unaccounted miners and are hopefulthat we will find survivors." The Board of Directors and the Management of Highland Gold Mining Ltd hasinitiated the following bank accounts for donations to the family of thedeceased. The bank accounts are as follows: Darasunsky Rudnik Payments in USD and Euro :Current account : 40702840000011389140 in ZAO IMBSWIFT: IMBKRUMM IMB Nostro accountsUSD account No 8900372575 in Bank of New York, New York; Euro account No 69102336 in Hypovereinsbank AG, Munich ENDS Press OfficeHighland Gold Mining LimitedTel: + 4 495 777 3155Email: pr@russdragmet.ru This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange