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Highlights:
- Fatal Incident: A worker was killed in a tragic ore pass collapse at the Caijiaying Mine.
- Operations Suspended: Griffin Mining has halted all activity pending a full investigation, following Chinese regulatory protocols.
- Safety Commitment: Griffin Mining emphasized its ongoing commitment to safety and pledged to enhance efforts to prevent future accidents.
Griffin Mining has announced the suspension of operations at its Caijiaying Mine in China following the tragic death of a contractor's employee. The incident, which took place on the evening of 11 October, involved the collapse of an ore pass filled with excavated paste that buried a loader and its operator. The worker was quickly transported to Zhangbei Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
In response to the fatality, Griffin Mining has complied with Chinese regulatory protocols by halting all mining activities at the Caijiaying Mine to allow for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The mine will remain closed until the investigation is complete, although regulatory authorities have expressed a desire for operations to resume as soon as possible once it is safe to do so.
The company has expressed deep regret over the incident, noting that safety is its highest priority. Mladen Ninkov, chairman of Griffin Mining, emphasized the gravity of the situation in a statement, saying: "A death in any family or organisation is inevitably a tragedy for the family involved and the numerous people, organisations and entities whose life that person would have interacted with on a regular basis."
Ninkov further highlighted the close-knit relationship between the company and its contractors, underscoring the profound impact of the loss on Griffin Mining’s staff and operational teams. "In a company such as Griffin, where safety is not only our overwhelming priority, but also where contractors and their staff become part of the Griffin ‘family’, this fatality has severely impacted our staff, contractors and operations," he said. He reaffirmed the company's commitment to prioritizing safety, vowing to strengthen efforts to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
The Caijiaying Mine, one of Griffin Mining's key operations, has a reputation for being a critical site for zinc, gold, and silver production. The mine's closure will halt all production temporarily, with the resumption of operations dependent on the results of the ongoing investigation and subsequent regulatory approvals.
At 1249 BST, shares in Griffin Mining dropped 2.52% to 155p in response to the news of the accident and the temporary suspension of operations.
