Hambledon Mining PLC
12 February 2008
HAMBLEDON MINING PLC
(AIM: HMB)
Boiler accident at Sekisovskoye
Hambledon Mining plc ('Hambledon' or the 'Group' or the 'Company'), the
AIM-listed gold mining and processing company operating in Kazakhstan, regrets
to announce that this morning the eluate heating boiler in the desorption
circuit 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 stripping
area of the processing circuit where the gold is removed from the loaded carbon
by passing a heated solution of cyanide and sodium hydroxide through the carbon
column. Damage to the process plant was minimal with only the boiler itself
suffering major damage. No solutions were lost and no environmental pollution
occurred.
The plant, which had been operating normally, has been stopped whilst the cause
of the explosion is investigated. A further announcement will be made as soon as
possible.
Enquiries
Hambledon Mining plc
Nicholas Bridgen, Chief Executive Telephone: +44 7791 327180
Bankside Consultants
Michael Padley Telephone: +44 20 7367 8888
Seymour Pierce
Nicola Marrin Telephone: +44 20 7107 8000
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.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange