Mining company cut jobs

 ST BARBARA says it has cut jobs at its Gold Ridge operations, in the Solomon Islands to levels more appropriate for current scale of activities.

The mine has been suspended three months back due to extensive flooding, which caused considerable damage to the site and access roads.

St Barbara’s expatriate personnel were only allowed to return to the site last month after visa issues had been sorted out and they have been carrying out assessment and stabilisation works since then.

Assessments have indicated the restart of production won’t occur for some time and after paying its idled workforce since April, the decision has been made to reduce it to a more appropriate level. It is unclear how many jobs will be affected.

St Barbara said hundreds of illegal miners encamped in the Gold Ridge open pits despite the presence of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, and mining could not restart until the issue was resolved.

The Tinahulu Bridge requires engineering reconstruction for heavy loads to be reliably transported in and out of site. 

Gold Ridge Mining Ltd said it is communicating with the Ministry of Infrastructure in this regard; however, the time-frame for repairs remain unknown. – PNG Industry News