(Kitco News) - Sibanye-Stillwater (NYSE: SBSW) today updated stakeholders on the impact of the regional floods which, on Monday 13 June 2022, affected a widespread region surrounding its US PGM operations in Montana, USA.
The company said that as per its initial assessment, despite widespread damage to infrastructure and personal property across the region, its mining and metallurgical operations were largely unaffected.
According to the company's statement, several bridges in the vicinity of its Stillwater mine were however damaged during the flooding and sections of the primary access road from Nye to the Stillwater mine have been severely eroded, restricting access to the mine and requiring rerouting of water, tailings and other piping.
"Remediation work on the east/west access bridge within the Stillwater mine complex has begun and should be completed in approximately four weeks," the company noted in a press-release.
It is estimated that operations at the Stillwater mine will remain suspended for approximately 4-6 weeks before safe access to the mine is restored and production can resume.
The company added that its management continues to engage with all relevant authorities and affected stakeholders to prioritize the repair of the damaged bridges and roads and to remediate the impact of flooding of the Stillwater River within the Stillwater mine complex.
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Importantly, the company also reported that access to the East Boulder mine and Columbus metallurgical facilities remains intact and both facilities continued operating during the flooding events.
The Stillwater mine accounts for approximately 60% of mined production from the US PGM operations.
Sibanye-Stillwater is a multinational mining and metals company with a diverse portfolio of mining and processing operations and projects and investments across five continents. The company is also one of the foremost global PGM autocatalytic recyclers and has interests in leading mine tailings retreatment operations.
