10 September

Resolute Mining has warned of a 10-day strike action at the Syama gold mine in Mali, after the company received notice from the Local Union Committee of the Union Nationale des Travailleurs du Mali SOMISY-SA informing that the strike will be launched if certain demands are not met. The company said that the union’s principal demand is related to a request to reinstate workers of the mine who have been stood down on full pay due to the company’s protocols related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Resolute said its comprehensive, company-wide response to the coronavirus pandemic implemented by the company prioritises the health, safety and well-being of its employees, contractors and stakeholders.

Excellon Resources has reported strong production in July this year after restarting the Platosa mine in mid-June, and said that trend continued through August. On the resumption of operations after the government-mandated suspension of non-essential business activities in the second quarter, the company provided safety and Covid-19 exposure prevention training for two days. It also reorganised the workforce and implemented better work schedules and various ventilation, mining method and other business improvements. Furthermore, Excellon implemented prevention, hygiene and safety measures, health screening, travel restrictions, contact tracing, testing and quarantine protocols related to the pandemic.

Increasing disruptions to supply of power from troubled South African utility company Eskom is expected to have an impact on mining companies and their plans to make investments, according to two industry executives. Impala Platinum chief executive Nico Muller was quoted by Reuters as saying during a platinum group metals conference that the impact of Eskom is far more pronounced than the Covid-19 impact.