Canada’s IAMGOLD Corp. (TSX IMG), (NYSE: IAG) has resumed mining operations in the southern pits of its Rosebel gold mine, in Suriname, with full ramp up expected in about a month.
Mine development activities at its 70:30 Saramacca joint venture (JV) project with the government of Suriname have also restarted, the company said.
Operations in the northern pits resumed at the end of August.
The Toronto-based firm had halted work at the mine early last month, following an incident involving police that caused the death of an artisanal miner and left some equipment unusable.
Shortly after, it laid off 325 contractors for the South American mine and lowered its production forecast for the year to between 765,000 to 810,000 ounces of gold, to reflect the operation’s halt.
IAMGOLD said on Monday it was hiring back the dismissed workers
and that has reached an agreement with the local community, enabling the haul
of Saramacca ore to the mine’s mill in early November.
Rosebel, located in the mineral rich Brokopondo
district, about 85 km south of the capital city of Paramaribo, has often been a
target for illegal miners. This has led the company to allow some artisanal
miners to work on the concession.
The Canadian company owns 95% of the gold mine and the
government of Suriname holds the remaining 5%.