B2Gold says reduced staff continue work at Mali mine amid strike

Robex Resources

19/05/2021 20:01

BAMAKO, May 19 (Reuters) - Gold miner B2Gold  BTO.TO  said
on Tuesday a nationwide strike by Mali's main workers union had
reduced staffing at its Fekola mine but not had a major effect
on operations.
    The National Union of Malian Workers (UNTM), which says it
represents 80% of unionised workers, launched a five-day strike
on Monday as part of a long-running standoff with the government
over wages. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2N202H
    B2Gold said mining and milling operations were continuing
with lower staffing at Fekola, which it expects to produce
530,000 and 560,000 ounces of gold this year.
    "There has been no major effect on mine operations from the
strike," said spokeswoman Katie Bromley.
    A union representative at Fekola told Reuters some workers
were on strike and production had continued at a reduced level.
    Mali is one of Africa’s largest gold producers.
    Union leaders at two other mines - owned by Resolute Mining
 RSG.AX  and Barrick Gold Corp  ABX.TO  - also said some workers
were on strike but production was unaffected.
    Both Barrick and Robex  RBX.V  have said operations are
unaffected. "We do not anticipate any loss of production. We had
several strikes like this over the past couple of years and we
always managed to keep our operation running," said Robex
spokesman Aurelien Bonneviot

 (Reporting by Jeff Lewis and Tiemoko Diallo;
Writing by Alessandra Prentice;
Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
 ((alessandra.prentice@thomsonreuters.com; +380 44 244 9150;
Reuters Messaging: alessandra.prentice.reuters.com@reuters.net))