Project Update/ Board changes

Hambledon Mining PLC
24 January 2008


PRESS INFORMATION                                                24 January 2008


                              HAMBLEDON MINING PLC
                                   (AIM: HMB)

                      Report on start-up and Board changes


Hambledon Mining plc ('Hambledon' or the 'Group' or the 'Company'), the
AIM-listed gold mining and processing company operating in Kazakhstan, announces
an update on operations at the Sekisovskoye gold mine and Ognevka processing
plant.

Both operations have had minor problems since the commencement of processing but
these have now been resolved and production is on track to meet the expected
levels.

Since the start of processing at the deposit, gold production was affected by
several minor start-up problems. Shortly after the start, the two main
ball-mills had to be shut down as a result of overheating of the discharge end
bearings. This was caused by misalignment and inaccurate machining during
manufacture. Some problems have also been experienced with the jaw crusher.
However, these and several other minor issues have all been resolved and the
crushing and milling sections are now operating satisfactorily.

The two final leach tanks, out of a total of six, have now been brought online
and it is expected that through-put will reach the design level of 850,00 tonnes
per year by the end of the month

At Ognevka, where operations started on 29th November 2007, concentrate
production has been hampered by poor flotation recoveries. The problem has been
traced to the effect of residual magnetism of fine particles after magnetic
separation. The plant was shut down over the prolonged Christmas and New Year
holidays for modifications but has now re-started and is operating normally at
20 tonnes per hour. Output will be raised to 30 tonnes per hour from February.

The Company also announces the appointment of Neil Robert Stevenson, aged 45, as
an executive director. Neil joined the Company as Operations Manager in August
2005. He is a mining engineer with a post graduate degree in Business
Administration and has over 20 years experience in the management of open pit
and underground mining operations.

Under Schedule 2, paragraph (g) of AIM Rules for Companies, there is nothing
further to disclose.

In addition, Randall Pyper has resigned his position as Technical Director.
Randall has been associated with the Company since February 2003, initially as a
consultant and then as a director since the Company's flotation on AIM in June
2004. He has overseen technical development from the inception of the
Sekisovskoye project through to the start of production. He will continue to be
a consultant to the Company both in the further development of our existing
operations and in reviewing future opportunities.


Nick Bridgen. Chief Executive, commented:

'It is sad to say goodbye to Randall, who has been with us from the very
beginning but he has a growing family and now needs to spend more time at home.
We wish him well in his return to consulting life as head of Kappes Cassiday &
Associates Australia in Perth.

'The start up has had a few teething problems, as expected, but nothing major
has emerged and we look forward to steady production figures going forward.'


Photographs of the gold pour at Sekisovskoye will shortly be available to view
on the Company's website: www.hambledon-mining.com


Enquiries

Hambledon Mining plc
Nicholas Bridgen, Chief Executive                     Telephone: [phone]
                                                                 [phone]

Bankside Consultants
Michael Spriggs / Michael Padley                      Telephone: [phone]

Seymour Pierce
Nicola Marrin                                         Telephone: [phone]


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