Brazil’s Vale SA is restarting work at its Ontario mines after suspending operations last week following the death of a mine worker. Stephen Perry lost his life in a rock collapse at the Coleman mine operated by Vale. Following this mining operations at all five nickel copper mines in Sudbury were suspended for safety evaluation on January 29.
The mining giant has now confirmed that work at all five mines has resumed although actual underground production is yet to resume at the underground operations while safety related tasks are underway. Surface plants at the Clarable Mill including the nickel refinery and copper smelter are operating and processing the stockpiled ore at the mine.
The five mines in Ontario include Coleman, Creighton, Stobie, Garson and Copper Cliff. Vale spokeswoman Angie Robson said that the returning work force of nearly 6,500 miners will be working with their managers on tasks associated with safety and risk management.
The Vale spokeswoman added that with stockpiles of ore available for processing at the company's mill and smelter, the company expects no impact on overall production as a result of the suspension of mining operations. The immediate focus in the Sudbury mines remains on safety and health she said.