New Gold (TSX: NGD) said on Friday it had started a systematic ramp-up of its Rainy River gold mine in Ontario, Canada, following a two-week suspension period to comply with federal and provincial coronavirus guidelines.
The Toronto-based miner said operations will steadily
ramp-up over the coming weeks with the overarching priority of ensuring the
safest possible environment for all employees.
Rainy River is located 65 km. northwest of Fort Frances, near
the border with Minnesota, which produced 257,000 ounces of gold last year.
According to the company, about 70% of the workforce is made
up of local residents, who would be the ones called in to help resume
operations.
Short trips across the border to Minnesota, a common
practice before the current pandemic, won’t happen until further notice.
The mine’s management, New Gold added, will continue to work
with surrounding indigenous and local communities to implement and coordinate
actions that will reduce the risk of the spread of covid-19.