JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – As the health, safety and corporate risks associated with the Ebola virus in Liberia diminish, ASX-listed Tawana Resources is gearing up to resume full site-based activities at its $53-million Mofe Creek iron-ore project.
In August last year, Tawana suspended all nonessential fieldwork at its potential 1.2-million to 1.5-million-ton-a-year iron-ore mine after a state of emergency was declared in Liberia.
The Liberia-based corporate office remained open during late 2014 and key local personnel were retained on staff payroll; however, all staff and personnel with outstanding leave were placed on mandatory leave or temporary redundancy during the suspension to minimise cash burn.
The West African country aimed to be Ebola-free by the end of February, with plans in place to reopen schools on February 2 after experiencing two days with zero new cases reported last week, its lowest weekly total since June.
Tawana, in response to this, produced a site-based recommencement and mobilisation plan, which would be implemented after a final review of the local community conditions within the project area had been completed and adequate management and logistics procedures could be implemented for sustainable, safe operations.
The junior iron-ore developer planned to provide a full quarterly performance update, highlighting achievements of the project early next week.