Six people were killed and two were injured after the roof of the reclaim tunnel at the Ahafo Mill Expansion project in Ghana collapsed. The project is run by US-based Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM).
The site is located in the Brong Ahafo region, some 307 kilometres from Accra. Other workers were evacuated and operations have been suspended to allow for an investigation into the causes of the accident.
"On behalf of the entire Newmont family I would like to express our deepest sorrow and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and co-workers of the victims," Gary Goldberg, the company's President and Chief Executive Officer, said in a media statement. "Our priorities right now are to support the families of those who lost loved ones in this terrible accident, and to cooperate with authorities to investigate its causes."
The Ahafo Mill Expansion was expected to improve volumes in the first half of 2018 and improve costs beginning in 2020. The namesake mine produces 349,000 ounces of gold per year and the overall operation employes 2,500 people.
Newmont is the world's second-biggest bullion producer, after Barrick Gold.