ASSORE STOPS PRODUCTION AT MINE OVER COVID-19

SOUTH Africa’s Assore suspended production at a chrome mine this week after an employee tested positive for Covid-19, the company said yesterday, highlighting the challenge mining firms face when they start operations again as lockdown eases. The worker was screened last week as part of Dwarsrivier Chrome Mine’s return to work protocols and was tested after showing Covid-19 symptoms, an Assore spokesperson said. Work at the mine, which produced 1.55 million tons of chrome ore in the last financial year, was suspended on Monday after the worker’s test proved positive a day earlier. The suspension was a precautionary measure and the mine would “resume operations once management has successfully completed an audit.” The worker had been in selfisolation for a week and other employees who were in close contact with him would remain in self-quarantine until their test results were known. The National Union of Mineworkers of SA criticised Assore on Tuesday for not informing the union about the case until Monday. | Reuters