DRDGold limited - Mine shaft lift failure at Vatuk
DRD
DRDD
DRDGold limited - Mine shaft lift failure at Vatukoula Mine
DRDGold limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1895/000926/06)
ARB number 086 277 616
JSE trading symbol: DRD
ISIN Code: ZAE000058723
Issuer code: DUSM
Nasdaq trading symbol: DROOY
("DRDGOLD" or "the Company")
MINE SHAFT LIFT FAILURE AT VATUKOULA MINE
A serious incident involving a mine shaft conveyance occurred in Philip shaft
at the Vatukoula Gold Mine in Fiji during the evening of Saturday 14 2006.
During testing of the shaft conveyance following maintenance, a skip-cage fell
down the shaft, causing damage to the surface winder mechanism.
Emperor Mines General Manger (Fiji), Mr. Frazer Bourchier, said that he was
thankful that safety procedures had been followed and that no serious injuries
had been reported from the incident.
"While we are all disappointed by this incident, we can be thankful that
nobody was injured as a result of the lift failure", he said.
"Test work and winder re-commissioning is always done while there are no
personnel underground or in the skip-cages, and this event shows why such
strict safety rules must always be followed.
Mr. Bourchier said that the reasons for the incident are not clear at this
stage.
"A comprehensive investigation has already commenced to establish the cause of
the failure, and relevant authorities are being kept informed of our progress,
"he said.
Mr. Bourchier said that it was likely that the Philip Shaft will remain closed
for some time as investigations continue and while repairs are undertaken. He
said that more information about the duration of the closure would become
available once initial investigations were complete.
Philip shaft produced approximately 50% of the total gold produced by
Vatukoula in the September quarter. The total production from Vatukoula
represented approximately 25% of total production for Emperor Mines Limited in
that period.
Emperor Mines is 78.7% owned by DRDGOLD.
Johannesburg
16 October 2006
Sponsor
Standard Bank
Date: 16/10/2006 05:29:06 PM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
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