Mining Operations to Resume at South Deep on Thursday
May 05 2008 - 12:15PM
PR Newswire (US)
JOHANNESBURG, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gold Fields Limited
("Gold Fields") (NYSE, JSE, DIFX: GFI) reports today that normal
mining operations will only resume in mining areas at 95 level and
above at the South Deep Gold Mine near Westonaria on Thursday
morning, May 8, 2008 after a Day of Mourning and a Memorial Service
which is to be held at the Twin Shaft Complex on Wednesday, May 7.
At a meeting at the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) in
Johannesburg today with mine management and trade unions, the Chief
Inspector of Mines agreed that the conditions of a Section 54 order
had been met and the mine could now recommence mining operations.
Underground working at South Deep had been suspended, except for
essential services for emergency purposes, since 17h40 on May 1
when the Section 54 was issued following the shaft accident that
tragically claimed nine lives. The Section 54 required that all
winding operations at South Deep, Kloof and Driefontein Gold Mines
be suspended pending assessment of the integrity of the winding
ropes. This order was fully complied with, and subsequent to the
issue thereof, only essential services for emergency purposes were
conducted at South Deep. Normal winding operations have resumed at
Kloof and Driefontein Gold Mines. Gold Fields is committed to
assisting the DME in its investigation into the accident at South
Deep on May 1, 2008. About Gold Fields Gold Fields Limited is one
of the world's largest unhedged producers of gold with attributable
production of more than four million ounces per annum from eight
operating mines in South Africa, Ghana and Australia. A ninth mine,
the Cerro Corona Gold/Copper mine in Peru, is expected to commence
production by mid 2008 at an initial rate of approximately 400,000
gold equivalent ounces per annum. The company has total
attributable ore reserves of 92 million ounces and mineral
resources of 252 million ounces. Gold Fields employs some 53,000
permanent employees across its operations and is listed on the JSE
Limited South Africa (primary listing), the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) and the Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX). All
of Gold Fields' operations are ISO14001 certified. For more
information please visit the Gold Fields website at
http://www.goldfields.co.za/. DATASOURCE: Gold Fields Limited
CONTACT: Enquiries, Andrew Davidson, Office +27(0)11-644-2638,
Mobile +27(0)826677203
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