Polymetal suspends mine over Covid, maintains 2020 guidance

London-listed mining company Polymetal said on Wednesday that it had temporarily suspended operations at one of its mines in Russia, after one third of its employees there tested positive for Covid-19.

The Olcha mine, part of the Omolon hub, employs 164 employees and contractors.

The mine would resume normal operational activity in 10 to 14 days and the suspension would not have a material impact on the group’s production for the year, Polymetal said in the company’s results announcement.

The miner kept its guidance for 2020 at 1.5-million gold-equivalent ounces (GEO) at a total cash cost of $650 to $700/oz and an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of range of $850 to $900/GEO.