(Alliance News) - Petra Diamonds Ltd will be closing mining operations in South Africa, it said on Tuesday.
This follows a directive from the South African government on Monday that the country will be going into a 21-day lockdown to fight the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19. The lockdown is effective from midnight on Thursday.
Petra owns the Finch, Cullinan, and Koffiefontein diamond mines in South Africa as well as the Williamson mine in Tanzania.
"Petra is currently carrying out a detailed review of the lockdown directive in order to comply with the measures required, which will involve placing its mining operations in South Africa on care and maintenance for the duration of the lockdown. The company will issue a further statement in due course once its review and planning has been completed," it said.
"Petra supports the government of South Africa's decisive measures to combat this unprecedented threat. The health, safety and wellbeing of all Petra people remains our top priority and the company is committed to protecting the ongoing viability of its operations and the livelihoods of its employees, contractors and stakeholder beneficiaries."
Shares were up 6.5% on Tuesday in London in afternoon trade at 1.20 pence each.
By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com
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Petra Diamonds (PDL)