News

March 11, 2009

Hambledon Mining Looks Forward To A Better 2009 After Encountering More Than Its Share Of Teething Problems in 2008

By Charles Wyatt

Many investors seem to think that once production has started at a mine all will be plain sailing as ramp up to full capacity proceeds. Nothing could be further from the truth as Nick Bridgen, chief executive of AIM listed Hambledon Mining will confirm. The best advice anyone can give is that which comes from most farmers when they run into a townie spouting about climate change: “With weather you have to expect the unexpected.” In the case of Hambledon the first set back was an accident to the boiler in the process plant which resulted in the death of an employee soon after production started a year ago.

A few months later Nick reported that production was still moving towards design capacity, but in June a lower than normal grade of ore was encountered. Towards the end of the month, higher grade material was being treated and the full process circuit was in operation, giving much higher production levels. The clay-like material which reduced the grade was gradually eliminated and production returned to normal by blending the remains with hard rock ore, but some of the ore that was crushed...