Business
Update Sekisovskoye Update
Update Sekisovskoye Update.
About this update from Altyngold Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n Hambledon Mining PLC\n19 February 2008\n\n\n HAMBLEDON MINING PLC\n (AIM: HMB)\n\n Boiler accident at Sekisovskoye - update\n\nHambledon Mining plc ('Hambledon' or the 'Group' or the 'Company'), the\nAIM-listed gold mining and processing company operating in Kazakhstan, announces\nthat the investigation into the boiler accident at the process plant of its gold\nmine at Sekisovskoye on 12 February 2008 is ongoing and is likely to be\ncompleted in the next few days.\n\nThe boiler in use was the same as those used for the same purpose in several\nother mining companies' gold plants in Kazakhstan and the cause of the accident\nis still unclear.\n\nThe damage to the processing facility was relatively minor and can be rectified\nby maintenance crews whilst a replacement boiler is procured. A suitable boiler\nhas been located in Russia and could, if necessary, be air-freighted to\nSekisovskoye, though preference will be given to a local supplier. The order for\na new boiler will only be placed once the result of the investigation is known\nso that any lessons learned or recommendations arising from it can be followed.\nOnce the inquiry is completed and orders can be placed, it is expected that the\nplant could be closed for up to a further five weeks. This period could be\nreduced if a suitable boiler can be sourced locally.\n\nPrior to the accident, operations had been progressing well. Metallurgical\nrecovery had reached 85% and would have been expected to reach the design level\nof 92% upon the commissioning of the Falcon gravity concentrator, which was\nready and waiting for the Falcon commissioning engineers to arrive.\n\nDuring the shut-down, the workforce have been redirected to other site-work and\nrectification of the remaining crusher problems with the intention that the\nplant will operate at design capacity when it restarts.\n\nNick Bridgen, Chief Executive, commented:\n\n'Our thoughts and sympathy are with the family of the operator who was\ntragically killed. We have always made it our priority to make sure that the\nplant is safe and will do everything in our power to ensure that no accident\nlike this happens again.'\n\n\nEnquiries\n\nHambledon Mining plc Telephone: +44 7791 327 180\nNick Bridgen\n\nBankside Consultants\nMichael Padley Telephone: +44 20 7367 8888\n\nSeymour Pierce\nNicola Marrin Telephone: +44 20 710...