PRECIOUS METALS

Harmony reports fatality at world's deepest gold mine

Seismic event triggered fall of ground at Mponeng

Staff reporter
 The Mponeng gold mine in South Africa

The Mponeng gold mine in South Africa

Operations were in the affected section of Mponeng, in South Africa's Gauteng province, were "suspended in the interim".

Mponeng has an operating depth of more than 4km and is one of the assets Harmony acquired from AngloGold Ashanti in October.

Harmony said the incident occurred on Wednesday, a day after the company reported stellar full-year results but CEO Peter Steenkamp had lamented the regression in the company's fatality injury frequency rate and named 11 colleagues who had died in mine-related incidents in FY21.

This is Harmony's seventh fatality reported this calendar year and the third since July 1.

An investigation was underway and Steenkamp offered condolences to the deceased's family friends and colleagues.

"It is of utmost importance that we ensure a safe working environment at all our operations, and we commit to providing the necessary support to the family in dealing with this unfortunate tragedy," he said on Thursday.

The National Union of Mineworkers said it was shocked by the death and aware of another fatality the same day, at the Two Rivers Mine in Limpopo, also due to a fall of ground.

"We call on the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to enforce the law and ensure that thorough investigation is done," NUM Carletonville Health and Safety Secretary Sikelela Dlamini said.

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