JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed DiamondCorp has suspended underground mining operations at its Lace diamond mine to have miner’s assistants undertake refresher training after a fall-of-ground incident in a development tunnel on the 310 m level.
A miner’s assistant has been hospitalised for observation after suffering contusions and four cracked ribs during an accident on Friday while explosive misfires were being made safe.
Following an investigation, the Department of Minerals Resources (DMR) ordered all miner's assistants to undertake refresher training in the handling and charging up of explosives.
The training is scheduled to be completed by Wednesday.
“Once the assistants are recertified, the company will apply to the DMR to resume underground mining operations, which is expected by the end of this week. In the meantime, the plant at Lace will process tailings,” the Southern African diamond mining, development and exploration company said in an update to shareholders on Monday.
While the suspension is not expected to have a material financial impact, DiamondCorp will not be able to mine the targeted 30 000 t of ore in July.
However, the company expects to achieve its targeted rates in August and aims to make up the July shortfall by the end of September.