Canada-based Goldcorp has announced that industrial action by miners has caused a halt in work at its Cerro Negro mine in Argentina.
The miners are represented by the Asociacion Obrera Minera Argentina, Province of Santa Cruz delegation.
During the operations shutdown, Goldcorp has put a comprehensive contingency plan in place, which will enable the restarting of mining and processing with immediate effect following the workforce’s return.
The company said work the stoppage began on 30 September and that it is currently seeking Argentina Ministry of Labour support to request a conciliation period of 15 working days.
During this time, the parties are expected to hold discussions and to work out a solution.
In January, Goldcorp said that gold production at the Cerro Negro mine is expected to be between 425,000oz and 475,000oz in 2015.
Designed and built by M3 engineering, the Cerro Negro mine is in the Santa Cruz Province.
Commercial production was declared on 1 January at the Cerro Negro mill, which has been operating at its design throughput rate of 4,000t a day.
Acquired in 2010, the mine contains several vein structures, including the Mariana Central, Mariana Norte, San Marcos and Eureka.
As of 31 December 2014, proven and probable gold mineral reserves at the mine totalled 5.26 million ounces.
