FLOODED: Production has been halted at the Kombat Mine due to flooding. Photo Contributed
FLOODED: Production has been halted at the Kombat Mine due to flooding. Photo Contributed

Kombat mine suspends operations due to flooding

Jo-Maré Duddy
Underground mining operations at Trigon Metals Inc.'s Kombat Mine in Namibia have been suspended following the failure of the mine’s two main dewatering pumps on the morning of January 16, 2025. This failure is expected to cause the flooding of the underground mine in the coming days.



To prioritize safety, all personnel have been evacuated from the affected areas, and efforts are underway to remove underground equipment. Trigon is working closely with stakeholders to address the situation, the company said.



Sale of shares continues



The company has confirmed its intention to proceed with a previously announced transaction with Horizon Corporation Ltd., which remains committed to acquiring Trigon’s interest in the Kombat Mine. Both parties, along with Trigon’s other partners, are actively determining the next steps.



Jed Richardson, CEO and Executive Chairman of Trigon Metals, commented, “Today’s pump failure is an untimely challenge that we are working to overcome. We applaud the team on-site for acting quickly to prioritize the safety of all mine workers. Initial discussions with Horizon indicate that the transaction will proceed with the hope of restoring operations and resuming business in a timely manner.”



Background on Kombat Mine



Trigon is a publicly traded Canadian exploration and development company focused on copper and silver holdings in Africa. Namibian businessman Knowledge Katti, through his company Havana Investments, initially acquired 100% ownership of Kombat Mine from South African company Grove Mining for a reported N$50 million. Katti later sold 80% of his stake to Trigon while retaining 20%.



The sale of shares to Trigon aimed to raise capital and bring a technical partner on board to help revive operations at the mine. Havana also donated 10% of its stake to the local community through state-owned Epangelo Mining.

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-19

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