Gold Production Commences

Hambledon Mining PLC 19 December 2007 PRESS INFORMATION 19 December 2007 HAMBLEDON MINING PLC (AIM:HMB) Gold production commences at Sekisovskoye Hambledon Mining plc ('Hambledon' or the 'Group' or the 'Company'), the AIM-listed gold mining and processing company operating in Kazakhstan, is pleased to announce that production has started at its Sekisovskoye gold project. The first gold pour will take place on 26th December in the presence of the Akim of the East Kazakhstan oblast and the Akims of the Glubokoye and Sekisovskoye regions. The event will be televised by 'Habar', 'VKTV' and '31' channels. Representatives of the Government of Kazakhstan will also attend. After a bedding-in period, gold production is expected to be at an annualised rate of 40,000 oz per year increasing to 100,000 oz per year when higher grade underground ore is processed. Over 145,000 tonnes of ore grading 1.46 g/t Au have already been stockpiled in readiness for the start-up. Nick Bridgen, Chief Executive, commented: 'Hambledon is now a production company with both the Ognevka treatment plant and the Sekisovskoye gold mine in operation. 'At both sites we have the potential to increase production significantly over the next couple of years. We are 100% equity financed and look forward to strong and rising cash flows.' Enquiries Hambledon Mining plc Nicholas Bridgen, Chief Executive Telephone: +44 7791 327180 +7 701 733 8915 Bankside Consultants Michael Padley / Louise Davis Telephone: +4420 7367 8888 Seymour Pierce Nicola Marrin Telephone: +4420 7107 8018 Note to editors Hambledon Mining plc is an AIM-listed gold mining and exploration company which is operating the Sekisovskoye gold mine and the Ognevka processing plant, both of which are close to Ust Kamenogorsk in East Kazakhstan. At Sekisovskoye, the Company is mining from an open pit and has constructed an 850,000 tonnes per year treatment plant. Production from the open pit will average over 40,000 ounces per annum. After the start of open pit processing, the Company plans to develop the much larger underground resource that is expected to lead to a combined production rate of around 100,000 ounces per year. The Ognevka processing plant is producing concentrates containing gold, silver, copper, iron and coke from the re-treatment of zinc smelter residues. ENDS This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange