(Alliance News) - Highland Gold Mining Ltd on Friday said its mining and processing plant operations, as well as its construction projects, have so far avoided disruption from the Covid-19 outbreak by virtue of their remote location.
Shares in Highland Gold were up 12% at 168.63 pence in London in morning trading.
The Russia-focused miner highlighted the remoteness of its operating and development assets, as well as their "geographically-restricted access", leading to a lack of disruption. It has also experienced no material disruption to its supply chain.
Pre-shift and pre-trip screening are already in place as part of a health monitoring system put in place in 2019. This system involved the use of "special diagnostic equipment" used to measure things like blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. Anyone showing health issues is then restricted from work while those at risk are "identified for future monitoring".
So far, none of Highland Gold employees have tested positive for the virus and work travel restrictions are in place, with colleagues asked not to travel abroad and anyone entering from outside Russia with symptoms asked to self-isolate for 14 days.
International SOS, a healthcare provider, has also been contracted and is " assisting with supplementary preventative measures, including screening of all shift employees in regional capitals before they travel to site.".
Highland Gold said: "The Russian government has instituted a state of heightened preparedness with respect to Covid-19 and is implementing measures designed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic that are, thus far, complimentary to those undertaken by Highland Gold. The company will continue to closely monitor the situation with its mining operations, supply chain, and the communities where we work, and will provide an update should there be any substantive changes."
By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com
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