×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Lily Mine operation to take up to 6 months

Picture Credit: www.mining-technology.com
Picture Credit: www.mining-technology.com

Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane and Vantage Goldfields CEO‚ Mike McChesney‚ disclosed on Thursday that it would take up to six months to retrieve the container in which three mine employers were trapped in an accident at the Lily Mine in Mpumalanga.

Last month‚ Yvonne Mnisi‚ Pretty Mazibuko and Solomon Nyerende were working in a shipping container office when the entrance of the mine collapsed‚ leading to the container falling into the ground.

Zwane and McChesney told a media briefing today that it will take about a month to get underground to start developing a new entrance‚ according to the government news service‚ and expected to take up to six months for retrieval of the container.

“This entrance will be located far away from the sink hole in good‚ geologically stable ground which will be a very safe option‚ although it will take some time. It is the best and the quickest option that we can implement‚” said McChesney‚

The mine has consulted with about five internationally recognised geo-technical specialists in the last two weeks about its rescue operation.

“Over the last couple of weeks we have recognised that this incident was much bigger and more complex than we originally anticipated. It happened very suddenly‚ without warning and without expectation‚” McChesney said.

He said the mood at the site was sad as people have come to terms with the reality of the situation.

The mine will implement its plan to recover the container in a few days.

Earlier on Thursday‚ Minister Zwane was presented with a preliminary geotechnical assessment of options for the recovery of the lamproom container.

The presentation follows assessments of the conditions which were conducted on 1 March and 3 March after the drilling of the second outlet was complete.

It was discovered that the second outlet was unsafe to send teams underground to resume the rescue.

“This then necessitated that other options be considered and expedited. The safest and most viable option proposed by the experts is that of a new underground decline access‚” the Department of Mineral Resources said.

The mine has briefed the families of the miners that are trapped underground with the latest developments.

“The priority remains that of getting the container to the surface as safely as possible. Government continues to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and will continue to keep the South African public informed‚” the department said.

Minister Zwane has called on the nation to rally behind the affected families and the mine.

“Safety in South Africa is our priority‚ for each incidence we want to know the causes and remedial actions moving forward‚” he said.

 

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.