Metals Exploration has been served a suspension order for certain mine construction works at the Runruno Gold Project in the Philippines while it deals with impacts from Typhoon Lando (Koppu).
The super-typhoon passed close to the Runruno development project and as a result the site was impacted by two days of high winds and intense rain fall. The main impacts of the typhoon were felt in Central and Northern Luzon.
Aside from a number of specific concerns, Metals Exploration says the Runruno project “stood up well” to the storm.
In a stock market statement Metals Exploration said the Philippines Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) directed it to suspend works in the area of the residual storage impoundment, the Malilibeg dump site and tailings pipeline bench. It must carry out rehabilitation and clean up works to the areas affected by excessive water run-off.
The company says work has already been prioritised and is under way in each of the areas. This work is ongoing. No structural damage was caused by the storm, though there is water damage to address and debris to clean up.
Metals Exploration says it is now working closely with the MGB to agree a program of work to enable the suspension to be lifted. “It is expected that the program will be agreed within a week for immediate implementation,” the company said.
“Commissioning of the processing plant is continuing, however the commencement of processing operations will be delayed until the suspension order is lifted. At this time it is not possible to estimate when this might occur.”
In late September Metals Ex said it was confident it would receive the permits necessary to switch on its Runruno mine. “The company does not expect any impediments to receiving the permits apart from time constraints,” it said.
At the time it said that the mine was all but built, but it was waiting on a permit for occupancy, a permit to operate, water discharge permits, a chemical importation licence and general business permits. The uncertainty over the switch-on date has affected build costs.
Work to date has defined a resource of 1.39 million ounces of gold, and 25.6 million pounds of molybdenum with 1.05 million ounces of gold reporting to the measured and indicated categories and 900,000 ounces within the mining proven & probable reserve category.