BRD.L Share News (BRD)

(Sharecast News) - BlueRock Diamonds, which owns and operates the Kareevlei Diamond Mine in the Kimberley region of South Africa, announced the temporary suspension of operations there on Thursday.The AIM-traded firm said it was due to the imposition of a section 54 notice from South Africa's mining regulator, the Department of Mineral Resources, which was received on Tuesday.It said the section 54 notice was in relation to the code of practice relating to operation of trackless mining machines only, and resulted from an accident on Friday involving an external contractor."Section 54 notices are not uncommon as a result of such incidents," BlueRock's board claimed in its statement."The company met with the Department of Mineral Resources yesterday to discuss this matter, and is in the process of amending its code of practice as required by the Department for review by them on Friday this week, with the suspension of operations expected to be lifted soon thereafter."BlueRock said the temporary suspension was not expected to impact upon its production volume guidance for the year, adding that it would make further announcements as appropriate.