JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The issuing of two separate Section 54 notices at Pan African Resources’ Mpumalanga-based mines by the Department of Mineral Resources’ Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate (MHSI) this month is set to negatively impact gold production from the Barberton and Evander operations, the company said on Friday.
Operations at the group’s Barberton Mines were suspended on November 13 after “deviations” were identified in respect of operating procedures and administrative processes related to the Fairview lamp room, self rescuers and gas monitors.
Following the issue of the notice, Pan African said management, together with the mine’s Safety and Health Committee (SHC), had corrected the deviations, and action plans were presented to the MHSI, which set the Section 54 notice aside on November 19.
However, following an unplanned visit to Evander Gold Mines on November 18, the MHSI issued a Section 54 notice for similar deviations in the lamp room, suspending all underground operations.
These deviations were attended to, Pan African added, noting that, on November 20, the MHSI set this notice aside.
“Together with all stakeholders, including the SHC, employee representatives and the communities in which it operates, Pan African continually strives to reduce accidents and to address any health and safety shortcomings, in an effort to operate the mines safely in a conducive environment,” it said in a statement.