| Tue 15 Dec 2009, 14:00 | | GFI - Gold Fields Limited - Driefontein Resumes Operations - Following A Six |
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GFI
GOGOF
GFI - Gold Fields Limited - Driefontein Resumes Operations - Following A Six
Day Closure
Gold Fields Limited
Registration Number 1968/004880/06)
("Gold Fields " or "the Company")
JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ Dubai Share Code: GFI
NYX Code: GFLB, and SWX Code: GOLI
ISIN: ZAE000018123
MEDIA RELEASE
DRIEFONTEIN RESUMES OPERATIONS FOLLOWING A SIX DAY CLOSURE
Johannesburg, 15 December 2009: Gold Fields Limited (Gold Fields) (JSE, NYSE,
NASDAQ Dubai: GFI) today announced that the Driefontein Gold Mine had resumed
production with the commencement of the morning shift on Monday, 14 December
2009.
Blasting and on-reef development activities at the mine were suspended on
Monday, 7 December 2009, following a number of seismic events in which two
employees were fatally injured.
The mine was closed for a full week, mainly as a result of the complexity of
the rescue and recovery effort and the fact that normal drilling and blasting
activities could not proceed simultaneously with the rescue operation, as it
would have placed rescue teams and other employees at risk. The rescue and
recovery effort was completed late on Thursday, after which the normal risk
assessment procedures and inspections took place.
Nick Holland, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields said: "We deeply regret
the loss of our colleagues and have expressed our deepest condolences to their
families. We have also offered our full support to help them cope with this
unexpected tragedy. This incident again underscores our total commitment not
to mine if we cannot mine safely, as well as the extreme urgency with which we
are searching for a step change in our ability to effectively deal with the
ever-present and unpredictable risk of seismicity."
Nick Holland also thanked the various teams and other employees who
participated in the rescue and recovery effort for their commitment and
courage, and expressed appreciation towards the Department of Mineral
Resources for their support throughout the process.
The suspension of blasting and development activities at Driefontein has
resulted in six days of lost production, which is expected to have a material
impact on production results of both Driefontein and the Group as a whole for
the quarter ending 31 December 2009.
Updated production guidance for the December quarter will be provided early in
January 2010, after the close of the quarter.
ends
About Gold Fields
Gold Fields is one of the world`s largest unhedged producers of gold with
attributable production of 3.6 million ounces* per annum from nine operating
mines in South Africa, Ghana, Australia and Peru. Gold Fields also has an
extensive growth pipeline with both greenfields and near mine exploration
projects at various stages of development. Gold Fields has total attributable
Mineral Reserves of 81 million ounces and Mineral Resources of 271 million
ounces. Gold Fields is listed on JSE Limited (primary listing), the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX), the
Euronext in Brussels (NYX) and the Swiss Exchange (SWX). For more information
please visit the Gold Fields website at www.goldfields.co.za.
*Based on the annualised run rate for the fourth quarter of F2009
Date: 15/12/2009 14:00:53 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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