Mining Weekly reports that Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Saturday that opencast mines would be permitted to return in phases to 100% operation from 1 May, but underground mines had to continue at 50% of production capacity.
Speaking during a media briefing on SA’s easing from the current Level 5 lockdown stage to Level 4, Patel said: “Mining has already begun the process of workers returning to work. They do so in batches because of the large numbers involved. Not all workers in mining can go back at the same time and my colleague Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has already outlined how that process will work in Level 5.” Patel went on to indicate: “In Level 4, the new addition is that those workers who work in opencast mining, in other words not underground, will be able to go back in larger numbers, again in phases but returning in the period from the current 50% eventually, in phases, to 100%.” Professional services, including engineering services, will also increase into the Level 4 risk-adjusted category of phased lockdown easing.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
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