Workers' strike slows production at Canadian B2Gold's key Mali mine, sources say
04/12/2024 09:34
BAMAKO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - A workers' strike at B2Gold
BTO.TO 's flagship mine in southwest Mali has reduced mining
operations to just 25% of its capacity, two employees at the
mine told Reuters on Tuesday.
Between 1,875 and 2,000 workers at B2Gold's Fekola mine in
Mali launched the seven-day strike on Nov. 29 over the dismissal
of some of their colleagues, the sources said, speaking on
condition of anonymity.
Responding to a request for comment, the Vancouver-based
miner said mining operations at Fekola were continuing at a
reduced capacity, although "well in excess" of the 25% reported
by the sources.
On Dec. 2, B2Gold said the industrial action was triggered
by steps taken by the company against a few employees who had
engaged in alleged illegal activities.
The Fekola plant was operating normally and output was
expected to be towards the lower end of an earlier forecast
range of 420,000 ounces to 450,000 ounces of gold this year, it
said in a statement.
Karim Fomba, national secretary of the civil construction,
mining and energy union, said the strikers' main demand is for
the company to reinstate the employees who were dismissed.
"A court decision has certified that the dismissals were
abusive, but the mine management has not implemented the
decision," he told Reuters.
Fekola is B2Gold's biggest mine and among the largest
operations in the West African country.
(Reporting by Portia Crowe, Tiemoko Diallo and Fadimata Kontao;
Additional Reporting by Felix Njini; Editing by Alessandra
Prentice and Louise Heavens)
((Portia.Crowe@thomsonreuters.com; +221785893440;))