Johannesburg - A fire that killed five workers at the
weekend at the KDC West mine operated by world No 4 bullion producer Gold
Fields [JSE:GFI] was still burning on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the company
said.
Spokesperson Sven Lunsche said the fire was not out of
control and both the KDC East and West mines would remained closed until
further notice. The entire KDC operation produces just over one million ounces
a year, or about 31% of group production.
The deaths are a setback for the government and the
industry, trying to improve safety at mines that include the deepest in the
world.
In 2011, the country’s mining sector recorded no “disasters”, defined as a single incident in which four or more people die.