Illegal miners attack Tembang gold project
Thursday, August 13 2015 - 03:26 AM WIB
ASX-listed Sumatra Copper & Gold plc announced Thursday that a group understood to be associated with illegal miners attacked late on Tuesday its Tembang gold and silver project in southern Sumatra, vandalizing some facilities.
?(They) approached the company?s security post located on the access road approximately 4 km from the mine site. Police and private security staff were withdrawn from this checkpoint for safety reasons and the checkpoint building was set fire to and destroyed. A small group entered the project area and set fire to and destroyed two buildings and two lighting plants with minor damage reported from elsewhere.? Sumatra Copper said in a statement.
It added that seven people were detained by the police and are expected to be charged. ?No injury to employees or contractors occurred. A preliminary estimate of damage to property and equipment is US$200,000.?
The company said it had commenced an independent review of its security arrangements and was in the process of implementing changes to staffing and procedures. The company said it will continue with plans to improve security. Additional police have been deployed and the situation has returned to normal.
?No disruption has occurred to mining and plant commissioning activities and the company continues to expect the first gold pour to take place in the first half of the December quarter in line with previous guidance.?
The company said it has received the P2 and P3 permits necessary for the use of explosives on site with the final B3 tailings permit expected to be received in the current quarter. Open pit mining has now commenced at its Siamang and Bujang deposits.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak