Canada’s Eldorado Gold (TSX:ELD)(NYSE:EGO) will resume operations at its Lamaque mine in Quebec on April 15 as the province has confirmed that mines can reopen starting Wednesday, but only with strict measures in place to limit potential coronavirus contagion.
The requirements companies must fulfill include reducing the
amount of people on flights into and out of mining sites, using more planes for
those flights to ensure distancing, offering shuttle buses directly to mines to
limit workers’ contacts, and having workers wear personal protective equipment.
Eldorado noted it already has safety protocols in place at
all its sites, including Lamaque, such as temperature screening, compliance
with additional hygiene measures and task observation to ensure that all work
is performed respecting physical distancing and the use of appropriate personal
protective equipment.
There also are isolation procedures in place should an
employee fall ill while at work, the company said, adding that staff has been
trained in these updated protocols.
Operations at Lamaque were moved to care and maintenance on March 23 to comply with the Quebec provincial government-mandated restrictions following a dramatic spike in the number of novel coronavirus cases.
The Vancouver-based gold miner recently received an
environmental permit for the expansion of underground production from the
Triangle deposit at Lamaque.
The project would allow the Eldorado to churn out 2,650 tonnes
per day once operations resume, up from 1,800 tonnes per day.
Lamaque, which began commercial operations last year, has an initial
mine life of seven years and its output is set to increase to 125,000-135,000
ounces of gold in 2020 and 2021. Eldorado Gold also has mining, development and
exploration operations in Greece, Romania, Serbia and Brazil.