BASE METALS

Vedanta continues search for missing mineworker at Gamsberg

Zinc mine remains suspended

Staff reporter

This article is 5 years old. Images might not display.

Ten people were trapped on Tuesday morning in the South Pit following a geotechnical accident. 

Eight were rescued and VZI said late last week it had recovered one of the remaining two missing people, contractor Moolmans' load and haul foreman Melvin Rodney Saal, 45, who was survived by his wife and three children.

VZI offered sincere condolences and said it was committed to assisting Saal's family, "now and in the weeks and months to come".

It said the continuing search and rescue operation for the remaining colleague would "remain the mine's absolute focus".

The company told Reuters its majority-owned mine remained suspended.

The supply disruption, coupled with strong demand from China, sent the zinc price to close about US$2,787/t on the London Metal Exchange on Friday, its highest point since May 2019.

The Gamsberg project was acquired by the Vedanta group from Anglo American in 2011 and was officially opened in 2019.

The 30-year mine was expected to produce 250,000 tonnes per annum of zinc in concentrate at full capacity.

Expert-led Insights reports and Analytics tools built on robust data, rigorous analysis and expert commentary covering mining Risk, Projects, ESG, Leadership, and Investor Sentiment.

Expert-led Insights reports and Analytics tools built on robust data, rigorous analysis and expert commentary covering mining Risk, Projects, ESG, Leadership, and Investor Sentiment.

editions

ESG Index 2025: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Index provides an in-depth evaluation of the ESG performance of 60+ of the world’s largest mining companies. It assesses companies across 10 weighted indicators within 6 essential ESG pillars.

editions

Leadership Insights 2025

Leadership Insights reveals key trends in priority mining issues through interviews with 15+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining IQ Risk Analytics

Risk Analytics offers interactive access to World Risk Insight data, allowing you to customise risk views, benchmark jurisdictions, explore data behind scores and read expert commentary to guide your decision-making.

editions

Project Pipeline Index 2025

View our 50 top mining projects, handpicked using a unique, objective selection process from an expanded database of 600+ global assets.