Arcata Expansion

Hochschild Mining PLC
15 May 2007

                                        
                                        
                      HOCHSCHILD COMPLETES ARCATA EXPANSION
                  Expansion will increase capacity to 424 kpta

Hochschild Mining plc is pleased to announce that the expansion of its Arcata
processing plant has been completed ahead of schedule and on budget. The
expansion will increase Arcata's capacity from 1,000 tpd (353kpta) to 1,200 tpd
(424 kpta).

Arcata, one of the group's three existing gold and silver operations in Peru,
expects to increase its silver production to an estimated 5.4 million oz in 2007
from 4.7 million oz in 2006. Gold production is expected to increase to 14k oz
in 2007 from 11.9k oz in 2006

Hochschild Mining plc is on track to increase its production from 23.3 million
Aq Eq oz (388 k Au Eq oz) in 2006 to at least 26 million Ag Eq oz ( 433 k Au Eq
oz) in 2007.

Eduardo Hochschild, Chairman of Hochschild Mining plc, said

'I am delighted to announce the completion of this significant expansion project
ahead of schedule and on budget. We are on track to achieve our production goals
for the year and to deliver the full growth programme set out at the time of our
IPO. This will take Hochschild Mining up to 50 million ounces of silver
equivalent production by 2011.'


Enquiries:
Hochschild Mining plc
Wray Barber                     [phone]
Head of Investor Relations

Finsbury
Robin Walker                    [phone]
Public Relations



About Hochschild Mining plc

Hochschild Mining plc (HOC.L for Reuters / HOC LN for Bloomberg) is a publicly
held company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Hochschild is a leading
precious metals company with a primary focus on the exploration, mining,
processing and sale of silver and gold. The Company currently operates three
underground epithermal vein mines located in southern Peru. The Company also has
three advanced stage development projects, one in each of Mexico, Peru and
Argentina and one early stage development project in Mexico. In addition, the
Company has over twenty long-term prospects throughout Latin America. The
Company has over forty years experience in the mining of precious metal
epithermal vein deposits. For further information please visit
www.hochschildmining.com.



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