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WAR
WARA
Western Areas Limited - Incident at South Deep being assessed
WESTERN AREAS LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration Number: 1959/003209/06)
Share code: WAR & ISIN No: ZAE000016549
ADR Ticker symbol: WARUY
CUSIP No: 957654304
("Western Areas" or "the Company")
INCIDENT AT SOUTH DEEP BEING ASSESSED
The South Deep Joint Venture announced today that, during routine rope
maintenance an incident occurred on 4 May 2006, when a loaded skip and the
attached rope detached from the shaft winder and fell 1600m from its mid-shaft
position.
No injuries were sustained to any personnel and everyone has been brought to
surface.
The regular maintenance procedure for the rock winder ropes has been
successfully carried out at four-weekly intervals since the commissioning of the
winder in January 2005. The procedure is well established and used throughout
the mining industry for the prevention of extensive wear at cross over points of
a winding rope.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the winding rope ends that are secured
onto the hoist drum pulled free from their clamping devices, resulting in the
conveyance and rope being drawn down the shaft.
The full extent of the damage to the shaft, caused by the falling conveyance and
rope, is currently being assessed. Thus far, it has been limited to areas of
safe access. Current findings indicate that the winding ropes have come to rest
mid-shaft, and significant work is now required to safely remove the 6.7km of
rope. The shaft will require significant repairs before normal hoisting
operations can be resumed.
"A remedial work plan will be determined once the entire shaft has been
inspected and evaluated. This will commence once the rope has been removed and
this specialised task is likely to take about two weeks" said Mr. Gordon
Thompson, Executive General Manager for South Deep. Teams of highly trained
staff have been deployed in round-the-clock shifts to address the task ahead.
While remedial work is under way, production, albeit at a reduced capacity, will
continue through the South Shaft.
A fuller assessment of the impact on production will be made once more
information of the extent of damage arising from the incident is determined.
Mr Thompson added: "I am pleased that no injuries were incurred either during or
after this event."
Johannesburg
5 May 2006
Sponsor
Sasfin Capital
A division of Sasfin Bank Limited
E-mail: info@wal.co.za
Date: 05/05/2006 04:49:15 PM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
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