Harmony recovers body from Bambanani mine

Johannesburg, South Africa — MININGREVIEW.COM — 29 September 2010 – Harmony Gold Mining Company “’ South Africa’s third-largest gold producer “’ reports that it has recovered the body of one of two miners who went missing after a tremor on Monday at the company’s Bambanani mine.

In a statement issued here, the company confirmed that the incident had led to suspension of operations at the mine. It could not say immediately how much gold production would be lost after the accident, in which four other workers were injured. The event occurred on 75 level, some 2 300m below surface.

South Africa “’ the world’s top platinum producer and a major chrome exporter “’ has a safety record that compares unfavourably with mines in more developed economies, partly because it has some of the world’s deepest mines.

Fatalities have led to the temporary closure of mines and reduced output, which is already declining due to falling grades.

Last year, 165 miners died in South African mines.

Bambanani mine, which is in Free State province, produced 1 170 kg of gold during the April-June quarter.