Extension Exploration Period

Hambledon Mining PLC
20 October 2004


                              HAMBLEDON MINING PLC

                                ('the Company')

                        Extension of exploration period

The Company's subsidiary company, TOO Sekisovskoye, has received notification
that its application to extend the period permitted for exploration of the
Sekisovskoye deposit for a further two years has been approved by the Kazakhstan
authorities.

This application was made in order to defer the necessity of making the
announcement of a commercial discovery which would otherwise have had to be made
by the end of the previous exploration period on 20 October 2004. Whilst the
Company is in a position to make such an announcement, it would have
necessitated the taking of certain further steps which will be more easily
completed at the conclusion of the current feasibility study.

TOO Sekisovskoye may now initiate the steps necessary to move to the production
period of the licence at any time of its choosing prior to 20 October 2006.

This application was made for administrative purposes and does not result from
or cause any delay in the Company's plans.

Further information on the Company's progress will be announced with the interim
results for the period ended 31 July 2004, to be released on 29 October 2004.

Contacts

Company:

Matthew Fletcher
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

www.hambledon-mining.com

Nominated Adviser and Broker:

Seymour Pierce Limited
Ewan Leggat - Corporate Finance
Jonathan Guy - Analyst
Telephone: [phone]




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