Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) says it concurs with the findings of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team that the tailings dam requires timely professional management.
GRLM director Mr Lehany said the Site Stabilisation Plan they previously provided to the national government includes action items regarding the tailings dam.
“GRML agrees with the view in the UNDAC draft report that only those with the necessary technical skill and sufficient mining experience should undertake work at the tailings dam,” Lehany said.
“We believe that GRLM is best placed to stabilise the tailings dam, and its technical team has plans ready to stabilise the mine and the tailings dam.”
He said they are actively seeking to engage with the Solomon Islands Government in an effort to return to the mine, as soon as the restriction placed upon their employees is lifted, and key logistics and related items are addressed.
The government had banned all expatriate GRML workers from returning after they hurriedly left the country last month as a result of the flooding.
The ban is still in place and GRML is yet to resume operations.
Lehany said all GRML permanent employees remain on ‘special leave’ and continue to be paid in full, however, this cannot continue indefinitely.
“Suppliers continue to be paid in full for contracted supplies.
“The company acknowledges the calls from landowner and community groups to return to site as reported in the media.
“We continue to engage with the Government on an increasingly urgent basis to allow for our personnel to return to site as soon as possible and undertake the works described above,” Lehany said.
