ALL mining and processing operations at Newcrest’s Gosowong mine in Indonesia have been suspended as rescue operations continue to retrieve a trapped worker.
The employee was trapped at Gosowong’s Kencana underground mine, due to a geotechnical event (ground movement) on Monday evening.
It damaged a “number of mining levels” at around 8.30 pm (local time).
A company spokesperson confirmed with The National yesterday that the employee trapped underground was a male Indonesian from the area near the Gosowong operation.
“He has not yet been rescued although we are making every effort to do so,” the spokesperson said.
The company said: “A geotechnical event occurred at the Kencana underground mine at the Gosowong Gold Mine on Halmahera Island in Indonesia.
“The event caused damage to a number of mining levels.”
The Kencana mine was evacuated immediately after the event and all personnel have been accounted for – except for one employee who is believed to be trapped 300 metres underground.”
Newcrest said no other injuries had been reported.
“At this time, our priority is to contact and rescue the trapped employee and provide all support necessary to the employee’s family and the Gosowong workforce,” the company said.
“All efforts and specialist resources are being applied to the rescue.”
The company has notified the family of the trapped employee and Indonesian authorities on the incident.
Newcrest is one of the world’s largest gold mining companies and operates mines in four countries including Papua New Guinea.
Its focus is on long-term value creation with an emphasis on key value drivers of maintaining low costs, growing reserves and production and using capital efficiently.
Newcrest’s mission is to deliver superior returns from finding, developing and operating gold and copper mines.
Its vision is to be the miner of choice to lead the way in safe, responsible, efficient and profitable mining.
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