JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Intermittent industrial action by the workforce of gold mining company Randgold Resources’ mining subcontractor is negatively impacting on operations at its Côte d’lvoire-based Tongon gold mine.
The company noted on Tuesday that the subcontractor has been negotiating with its workforce to achieve a resolution and that Tongon management, as well as Randgold executives, are also engaging with the country’s Minister of Mines, senior government and elected officials and local authorities, who are assisting with the negotiations.
Tongon is currently processing ore from the run-of-mine and scats stockpiles but management said the operation was lagging its production forecast.
“With the assistance of the authorities, the operations were expected to get back to full capacity and the challenge was going to be recovering the lost production,” Randgold CE Mark Bristow said in a release on Tuesday.
He further added that the mine has taken the opportunity to upgrade the second mill motor and mill discharge grate system, which is expected to ensure higher and more consistent throughput that would help to recover some of the lost production.
Bristow confirmed that Randgold’s group outlook for this year remained within guidance.