 The deaths of five miners from smoke inhalation and the subsequent halting of mining at the Gold Fields KDC West mine near Carletonville last Saturday has put renewed focus on mining safety and production.
Gold Fields productions targets are expected to be hit by the closure of the shaft, while Cosatu called for the jailing of mine bosses "who are only concerned about the profits at the expense of our workers and safety in the mines".
Willie Jacobz, spokesman for Gold Fields, said it was not yet possible to quantify the total loss of production.
He said the eastern and western wings of the Ya-Rona shaft at KDC West produce about 100kg of gold daily. With the partial loss of production in the eastern wing ( two days, as it was reopened on Monday) and the loss of production in the western wing for seven days by Friday, some 450kg of gold might be lost.
At a gold spot price of $1694/oz (R420206/kg) on Friday, this would mean a loss of R189-million.
Jacobsz said Gold Fields had reached agreement with the Department of Mineral Resources to re-open the western shaft by tomorrow, but certain conditions have to be met first.
Speaking at the Mining for Change 2012 seminar in Johannesburg this week, Mark Cutifani, CEO of Anglo Gold Ashanti, said the mining industry had made rapid progress towards a minimal-injury environment through training and by introducing new technology.
According to the Department of Mineral Resources annual report for 2010-11, the mining industry recorded the lowest number of fatalities in its history in 2010. A total of 127 people died, compared to 168 the previous year.
According to the department, more than 54000 mineworkers have died in mining accidents in SA since the first recorded death in 1904.
Faith Bikana, an ANC member of parliament's portfolio committee on mineral resources, said the country's laws were strict enough, but were not applied consistently.
Cutifani rejected the imposition of harsher sentences for mining managers and directors.
"The law already makes provision to punish any negligence. However, we should not be scaring young professionals from entering the mining sector because of threats of jail terms."
businesslive.co.za
|