AngloGold Shuts Gold Mine As Covid-19 Positive Cases Escalate

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): AngloGold Ashanti announced its decision to temporarily shut the Mponeng gold mine in South Africa’s Gauteng Province, after reporting more Covid-19 cases among mine employees.

The company press release said that a total of 196 out of 650 people have been tested positive for coronavirus. The company had earlier suspended mining operations at the facility after 164 workers were tested positive on Sunday. More results were awaited that time. The mine had been operating at half-capacity since it reopened in April, following shutdown during nation-de lockdown imposed by the South African administration to contain the spread of the virus.

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Further to discussions with the regulator, the company has decided to voluntarily halt all operations at the mine temporarily until further notice, so as to enable contact tracing and conduct necessary cleaning and sanitization of the workplace and infrastructure. AngloGold Ashanti announced that all workers tested positive will be isolated in line with health protocols, with on-site facilities available for those in need.

Mponeng mine- the world’s deepest gold mine had accounted for nearly 7.4% of the company’s total gold production in 2019.

Other South African mines, owned by Impala Platinum and Assore, too had to shut operations following Covid-19 positive cases among workers.