B2Gold forges ahead with retrenchments
The B2Gold Otjikoto gold mine is moving forward with its planned retrenchment process, despite impressive production results and exploration success that may boost future underground mining activities.
The shift to focus on underground mining means that open-pit activities are ending and hundreds of miners will begin to receive their notices of involuntary retrenchments from the mine.
Since April, the voluntary retrenchment process has received applications from 53 employees, with 26 resignations accepted.
The applications that were not accepted come from departments that are not currently affected by the layoffs, and these employees' skills are still needed.
"We are aware that this affects people's livelihoods," mine manager Eric Barnard stated.
It has led to an investigation into the skills available across different departments and the re-allocation of employees, which has reduced the total number of layoffs, he said. He did not disclose the exact number of job losses, as affected employees first have to be informed, he said.
Support provided
He did confirm on Friday that the mine has now entered the second phase of layoffs with involuntary retrenchments.
"We have launched human resource and welfare interventions, including internal counselling and bringing in mental health counsellors when needed. We provide financial literacy training because we know the payout of lump sums can potentially cause problems. Some people have accepted this and look forward to the day they receive the notice, with plans to start small businesses, which we support with training," he said.
"There is a comprehensive schedule of training opportunities available on the mine site and we sometimes provide study grants and loans. [There has been] great success with the driver's licence training. Over the past few months, we have built a plot on the mine where employees learn to get their driver's license," Barnard explained.
Thanks to the Atushe Vamwe programme, which has celebrated cultural diversity at the mine since 2019, the mine management can already rely on champions who help disseminate information and facilitate feedback, Barnard explained. He said clear communication is appreciated by staff, particularly due to visits to each department where inputs and suggestions are also collected and later implemented.
Output
Regarding exploration at the Antelope gold deposit, B2Gold last month officially released its resource estimate for the Springbok Zone. About three kilometres south of phase five of the open pit, the company believes there may be an additional 390 000 ounces of gold within 1.75 million tonnes of ore at 6.91 grams per tonne underground.
A preliminary economic assessment has been initiated, which, if positive, may mean that underground mining could begin producing gold by 2026. This could lead to gold production exceeding 100 000 ounces per year from 2026 to 2031.
Otjikoto is expected to produce between 180 000 and 200 000 ounces of gold this year, with the first quarter already having delivered 45 416 ounces by the end of March.
The shift to focus on underground mining means that open-pit activities are ending and hundreds of miners will begin to receive their notices of involuntary retrenchments from the mine.
Since April, the voluntary retrenchment process has received applications from 53 employees, with 26 resignations accepted.
The applications that were not accepted come from departments that are not currently affected by the layoffs, and these employees' skills are still needed.
"We are aware that this affects people's livelihoods," mine manager Eric Barnard stated.
It has led to an investigation into the skills available across different departments and the re-allocation of employees, which has reduced the total number of layoffs, he said. He did not disclose the exact number of job losses, as affected employees first have to be informed, he said.
Support provided
He did confirm on Friday that the mine has now entered the second phase of layoffs with involuntary retrenchments.
"We have launched human resource and welfare interventions, including internal counselling and bringing in mental health counsellors when needed. We provide financial literacy training because we know the payout of lump sums can potentially cause problems. Some people have accepted this and look forward to the day they receive the notice, with plans to start small businesses, which we support with training," he said.
"There is a comprehensive schedule of training opportunities available on the mine site and we sometimes provide study grants and loans. [There has been] great success with the driver's licence training. Over the past few months, we have built a plot on the mine where employees learn to get their driver's license," Barnard explained.
Thanks to the Atushe Vamwe programme, which has celebrated cultural diversity at the mine since 2019, the mine management can already rely on champions who help disseminate information and facilitate feedback, Barnard explained. He said clear communication is appreciated by staff, particularly due to visits to each department where inputs and suggestions are also collected and later implemented.
Output
Regarding exploration at the Antelope gold deposit, B2Gold last month officially released its resource estimate for the Springbok Zone. About three kilometres south of phase five of the open pit, the company believes there may be an additional 390 000 ounces of gold within 1.75 million tonnes of ore at 6.91 grams per tonne underground.
A preliminary economic assessment has been initiated, which, if positive, may mean that underground mining could begin producing gold by 2026. This could lead to gold production exceeding 100 000 ounces per year from 2026 to 2031.
Otjikoto is expected to produce between 180 000 and 200 000 ounces of gold this year, with the first quarter already having delivered 45 416 ounces by the end of March.
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