OceanaGold Corp. (TSX, ASX: OGC) is resuming operations at the Macraes and Waihi mines in New Zealand after the government loosened its COVID-19 alert, the company announced Tuesday.
Officials said a number of health and hygiene measures have been put in place at both locations.
“At OceanaGold, safe operating practices include effective health-screening procedures, physical distancing, contact tracing and restricted site access to essential employees and contractors only. With these strict protocols in place, we have resumed mining and processing at Macraes and development of the Martha Underground [at the Waihi operation],” said Michael Holmes, president and chief executive officer.
As a result of these changes, and with the Haile mine in South Carolina operating at full capacity, the company reaffirmed its 2020 production guidance.
To date, the company has not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19 among employees or contractors, OceanaGold said.
The company’s fourth-quarter earnings statement showed that Macraes produced 172,475 ounces of gold in 2019, while Waihi provided around 68,100. Collectively, they accounted for slightly more than half of OceanaGold’s total 2019 output of 470,601 ounces.
