Blockade over alleged missing miners halts Zijin's Colombia mine production

First Colombia Gold

16/08/2022 16:53

By Julia Symmes Cobb
    BOGOTA, Aug 16 (Reuters) - A days-long community road
blockade has halted production at Zijin Mining's  601899.SS 
Colombia gold project due to allegations that informal miners
are trapped in tunnels on its land, the Chinese company said
late on Monday. 
    Those holding the blockades, which began on Aug. 12, are
demanding the national mining agency verify whether any miners
are trapped, Zijin said, adding it supports an inspection as
soon as possible.
    "The mining rescue team will take charge," a spokesperson
for the mining agency told Reuters. "Today the team is prepared
to enter, we're waiting on the arrival of the miners who will
guide the inspection of the tunnels."
    Thousands of wildcat miners work in sometimes-deadly
conditions in dozens of informal tunnels in Buritica
municipality in northwestern Colombia, including many within or
adjoining Zijin's concession.
    The activities, controlled by the Clan del Golfo crime gang,
are a safety issue for the surrounding community and affect
Zijin's output, a Reuters investigation last year showed.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2MZ02A
    Roads near Buritica are shuttered, as is the entrance to
Zijin's site, the company said in a statement late on Monday
night, adding vehicles transporting contractors have been
attacked and guard posts vandalized.
    A further statement from Zijin on Tuesday morning said
production is interrupted.
    There is no confirmation any miners are trapped and
therefore no figure for the alleged missing, the mining agency
spokesperson added.
    Local media reported late last week that dozens of miners
could be trapped. The security department of Antioquia province
said on Friday it had no official reports of missing people.
    Buritica's mayor did not immediately respond to a request
for comment.
    A local resident told Reuters the town could soon begin to
experience food shortages because of the blockade.
    Zijin paid $1 billion in late 2019 to buy the extensive mine
from Canada's Continental Gold, despite security concerns
related to attacks on staff near Buritica and further afield.

 (Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Josie Kao)
 ((julia.cobb@thomsonreuters.com; +57-316-389-7187;))