Media releases

Heavy rains force shaft closure

Details

Published: Wednesday, 23 February 2000 02:00

Johannesburg, 23 February 2000 - Durban Roodepoort Deep has closed one of its shallow working shafts, the Number 16 Shaft of its West Wits section, for safety reasons after an influx of water attributable to the recent heavy rains raised the water levels to the shaft's main production and hoisting level. Johannesburg, 23 February 2000 - Durban Roodepoort Deep has closed one of its shallow working shafts, the Number 16 Shaft of its West Wits section, for safety reasons after an influx of water attributable to the recent heavy rains raised the water levels to the shaft's main production and hoisting level. The costs to de-water make continued mining of the shaft uneconomic.

The shaft accounted for some 10% of West Wits' gold production and 0.7% of the DRD group's total gold output, and the closure will therefore not have a significant effect on the group's performance. Management has entered into discussions with the relevant unions and associations regarding the 373 people employed at the shaft.