Solomon Islands ban St Barbara workers
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner St Barbara continues to face a number of challenges as operations at its Gold Ridge operation, in the Solomon Islands, remained suspended.
The ASX-listed St Barbara halted mining operations at Gold Ridge at the start of April, and subsequently temporarily evacuated the mine site following torrential rains that caused significant damage to infrastructure.
A force majeure was declared for certain of the mining and supply agreements, but St Barbara was adamant that the company had not abandoned the mine.
The company said it had provided the government with a site rehabilitation plan, detailing measures to reduce water levels in the tailings dam, as well as work to secure the processing circuit and remove hazardous materials. The gold miner also continued to pay its employees and suppliers, while keeping in contact with government officials.
However, St Barbara stated that while a team had been ready to undertake remedial work at the mine since April 14, the Solomon Islands government has advised that a number of the company’s expatriate officers and managers were not allowed to return to the Solomon Islands until further notice.
Director Tim Lehany said that the government had given no reason for this order, with Lehany adding that the inability of certain personnel to travel to site would cause a delay in the assessment and stabilisation of work at Gold Ridge.
“We continue to engage with the Solomon Islands government in an effort to return to the mine, but cannot return personnel to a situation where their safety and security may be under threat,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Gold Ridge operation had also been subjected to illegal mining in the absence of mining personnel on site. Lehany has expressed his concerns regarding the safety of the illegal miners who re-entered the openpit mine areas.
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