Rosebel to recall contractors

PARAMARIBO - Iamgold has partially restarted mining at Rosebel in Suriname and said it was continuing talks with government and local stakeholders with an aim to resume full operations. The company had suspended mining activities for security reasons at Nieuw Koffiekamp which is also known as the Royal Hill site at the start of this month, after an incident involving police where an unauthorized artisanal miner died and some equipment was damaged. It reduced its 2019 attributable production guidance a week later, from 810,000-870,000 ounces to 765,000-810,000 ounces, and increased its allin sustaining costs from USD 1,030-1,080 to USD 1,0901,130/oz sold. It also let 325 contractors go mid-month “in order to align labor levels with production guidance”. “The company is fully committed to restarting the southern pits and recalling its contractors”, Iamgold said last week. Natural Resources Minister Sergio Akiemboto told Times of Suriname on Friday that Rosebel had gradually resumed its operations. The minister could not indicate when all of the contractors will be recalled. “It is not an easy decision to make but this is what happens when a company suspends its operations. We know that these people have families to support and mortgages to pay”, said Minister Akiemboto who added that the government is sparing no efforts in making sure that the other sites at Rosebel will soon be back in production again. The local miners from Makamboa who live at Nieuw Koffiekamp have also been asked to make sure that things do not get out of hand in Rosebel’s area. Security has already been beefed up in the area. The minister could not indicate how much damage has been done in total and what the financial losses are as a result of the suspension of the mining operations. The company told Mining Magazine that mining had restarted in the northern pits at Rosebel and that work had resumed on the Saramacca road construction. However, mining in the southern pits and mine development at Saramacca remains suspended.