Dual listed Besra has resumed normal operations at its Phuoc Son gold mine in central Vietnam following 5-day shutdown. Despite the production down time resulting from this event, Besra expects to meet its market guidance of 60,000 ounces to 65,000 ounces of gold for the financial year ending June 30th 2013.
The company had shutdown the mine on May 7th 2013 due to a blockage of the access road to the site by a number of individuals from the local community. This blockage had started after vandals had attempted to remove a tailings pipe from the site earlier in the same day, resulting in the unauthorized release of 755 kilograms of tailings into the local watershed.
As soon as the discharge was discovered a plant shutdown was initiated and the company immediately launched cleanup operations. Besra was able to work closely with local authorities, including the Environment Department and the police as well as senior community representatives, to peacefully conclude negotiations with the community.
Phouc Son was commissioned in 2011 and has plated capacity of 1,000 tonnes per day. The company has achieved recovery rates of between 92% and 95% from the mine using a conventional crush grind, gravity, and flotation and CIL plant.