The Group says this week’s mine worker deaths come after 73 fatality free days. Its largest Driefontein and Kloof mines are still closed for mining.
Gold Fields's largest Driefontein and Kloof mines were still closed yesterday (SUBS Thursday) after fatalities broke a 73 day safety record of no incidents across the group's mines.
Gold Fields spokesman Willie Jacobsz said the group maintained a clear safety record after its declaration in May that it would not mine if it couldn't mine safely. This achievement was interrupted when a mine worker died after a rockfall on October 13 and two people died in a seismic event at Driefontein on Wednesday.
Jacobsz said the group could not say yet how much production was being lost due to the mine closures at Kloof and Driefontein and did not know when the mines would reopen for business. Driefontein is Gold Fields's largest gold mine.
The department of minerals and energy carried out an inspection at Driefontein yesterday (SUBS Thursday) morning and would make a decision on the re-opening of the mines after presentations by Gold Fields.
In the 2008 financial year, Driefontein produced 928 000 ounces. The mine, situated about 70km west of Johannesburg near Carletonville, comprises seven producing shaft systems that mine from pillars and the surface.
Gold Fields describes Driefontein as a large, well established, deep to ultra deep level gold mine running 3300m below ground.
Kloof, situated 48km west of Johannesburg near Westonaria, produced 821,000 ounces during the financial year 2008. It consists of five shaft systems and two gold plants, and is an intermediate to ultra deep level gold mine running to 3347m below ground.
Reuters reported in July this year that Gold Fields had the worst safety record in South Africa at this point, with about half of a total of 85 deaths occurring at the group's operations.
