RESOLUTE Mining has committed $1m in financial support to its host governments aimed at tackling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Extraordinary events require an extraordinary response,” said John Welborn, MD and CEO of Resolute Mining. The company, listed in Sydney and London, operates the Syama mine in Mali and Senegal’s Mako gold mine.
“Resolute is proud to assist Mali and Senegal in the fight against COVID-19,” said Welborn. “The challenges presented by COVID-19 continue to change daily and we must remain agile and united in our response to the pandemic.”
The mining industry has poured financial assistance into African government coffers in an attempt to deal with the pandemic.
Earlier this week, Barrick Gold added to a previously announced donation of $530,000 to Zambia by providing assistance of $1.7m in the form of critical equipment and expertise to help prevent the spread of the virus in Tanzania.
It also announced a $1.5m support program to help combat and contain the Covid-19 pandemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Resolute’s commitments consist of direct financial assistance as well as the sourcing and supply of vitally important Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), COVID-19 testing kits, and other medical equipment, the company said.
Resolute said it had no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at any of its sites or offices, and with supply chains largely unaffected. Nonetheless, it had implemented a COVID-19 response, including implementing the World Health Organization guidelines for separation, isolation and mitigation at all company sites.
“Resolute will continue to work closely with our host governments and local communities to keep people safe and maintain our operational capacity,” said Welborn.
“We recognise that the continued operation of Syama and Mako during this crisis is of vital importance to local employment, community well-being and the economies of Mali and Senegal,” he said.
