Sibanye-Stillwater safely brings Beatrix employees to surface after power outage
Sibanye-Stillwater safely brings Beatrix employees to surface after power outage
Johannesburg, 2 February 2018. Sibanye-Stillwater (Tickers JSE: SGL and NYSE: SBGL) is pleased to advise that all underground employees at its Beatrix operations in the Free State, have safely returned to the surface.
A severe storm during the night of 31 January 2018, caused the collapse of both the primary and secondary Eskom powerlines supplying electricity to the Beatrix Operations, causing a power surge and outage at all three shafts at its Beatrix Operations. As a result the majority of the night shift was unable to be hoisted to surface.
Emergency power supply from backup generators enabled 64 employees to return to surface at Beatrix 1 shaft and 272 employees at Beatrix 4 shaft during the course of the following morning, but damage to the winder control systems and generators at the Beatrix 3 shaft resulting from the power surge resulted in 955 employees remaining underground at the shaft stations until Eskom power had been restored to the mine.
Management remained in control throughout and were confident that the decisions made were in the interests of employee wellbeing. Mine rescue and medical teams were mobilised and due care was taken to ensure employees were safe and had access to food and water. Detailed contingency plans were made mine rescue teams to evacuate employees through the second outlet at Beatrix 1 shaft, in the event that power was not restored.