JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Zimbabwe-based platinum producer Zimplats has warned of a possible 70 000 oz drop in 2015 financial year production, after deciding to cease all mining activities at its Bimha mine with immediate effect.
This decision was taken to ensure the safety of its employees.
On July 18, the company reported that a major underground collapse at the mine, which was triggered by the accelerated deterioration of ground conditions associated with the Mutambara Shear, had affected about 50% of the mine’s footprint.
Zimplats informed shareholders on Wednesday that ground conditions had continued to deteriorate in recent weeks, prompting the company to withdraw all employees from high-risk areas immediately.
It would also start implementing closure procedures across the mine.
A team of Zimplats and independent advisers would conduct detailed investigations to re-engineer or arrest the current mine stability concerns.
The company assured shareholders that production from its other three mines was not affected and that the ramp-up of the Mupfuti mine continued.
Further, two mining fleets from Bimha had been deployed to the other Zimplats mines to mitigate production losses.
Zimplats, which is a subsidiary of Impala Platinum, had produced 240 000 oz in the 2014 financial year.