11 September 2009
NEWS RELEASE
ZINCOR UPDATE
Ongoing support and
counselling is being provided to next-of-kin and colleagues of the three
contractors who died in yesterday?s explosion at the Zincor refinery owned by
diversified South African-based resources company Exxaro Resources Limited
(Exxaro).
The 12 injured
contractors together with their colleagues and employees who were involved in
the accident also continue to receive support. Zincor management today visited
the three injured workers who are still hospitalised. They are in a stable
condition and one of the men is being discharged today.
Exxaro reported
yesterday that the explosion, which happened in the maintenance contractors?
storage area situated near the plant, resulted in the deaths of three
contractors and injured 12 others.
?The current focus
at the plant is on assisting our affected people, our involvement in
investigations into the cause of the accident, and achieving stability within
the plant operational environment,? said Johan Meyer, Zincor?s business unit
manager.
Zincor teams are
restoring electricity supply which was damaged in the incident and by early
next week management expect to make a decision on when to re-start production.
Zincor?s daily zinc metal production capacity is about 300 tonnes.
Customers are being
kept informed of developments and plans are being made to meet their
requirements over the short-term.
Results of
investigations into the cause of the accident by Exxaro as well as the
Department of Labour and other stakeholders are expected in about four weeks?
time.
Ends
Editor?s Note:
Exxaro is
one of the largest South African-based resources companies with interests in
the coal, mineral sands, base metals and iron ore commodities.
Zincor is an electrolytic
zinc refinery producing zinc metal and sulphuric acid. It is currently the only
zinc refinery in South Africa.
www.exxaro.com
Enquiries:
Hilton
Atkinson
Manager, Corporate Communication
Tel: + 27
(0) 83 609 1452
Email: hilton.atkinson@exxaro.com