24 Nov 2010
The Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu has noted with regret reports this morning of deaths of 29 miners at Pike River coal mine in New Zealand and has pledged support and assistance of her department should it be so required.
According to reports, the explosion ripped through the mine five days after the initial blast which trapped the 29 men, including one South African, two Australians and two Britons.
Shabangu said while it is understood that mining by its nature is a dangerous business, more should be done to ensure that the loss of so many lives will be avoided in future.
“We would like to urge all mine owners to put management systems and to use technology to prevent such accidents from happening. The mining community, at home and abroad, has a responsibility and a duty to prevent such disasters from occurring,” said Minister Shabangu.
The victims of the blasts ranged from a 17-year-old on his first shift to a 62-year-old veteran after explosive and poisonous gases had prevented rescuers from entering the mine to search for the missing men since the initial explosion on Friday. Stop-start rescue efforts had earlier inched forward when a bore hole into the mine finally broke through, revealing a toxic cocktail of dangerous gases with little oxygen, but rescue efforts were ended when the second blast shook the pit.
Enquiries:
Musa Zondi
Cell : 082 747 6412
Tel: 012 444 3605
E-mail: Musa.Zondi@dmr.gov.za
24 November 2010
Issued by: Department of Mineral Resources
24 Nov 2010
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