22 Jul 2013 14:27
Richland Resources Limited
("Richland" or "the Company") (AIM: RLD)
Shooting of an Employee by Illegal Miners, Tanzania
Richland Resources Ltd, the gemstones producer and developer, regrets to announce that an employee at its wholly owned subsidiary, TanzaniteOne Mining Limited, Mr Willy Onesmo Mushi, was killed by illegal miners within its Block C licence area. Mr. Mushi's family has been informed.
As previously reported over 12 months of uncontrolled illegal mining and violence directed against Company employees, especially within high grade and quality areas, has severely affected the Company's operations, which have been curtailed due to our concerns about the safety of the working environment in certain parts of the Company's mining licence area.
On 18 July 2013 a Government led and supported operation to expel the illegal miners, which included the Field Force, a division of the Tanzanian Police Force as well as officials from the Ministry of Minerals and Energy worked in conjunction with the Company to re-enter areas of the Block C Merelani mine that were previously taken over by hostile illegal miners from neighbouring blocks. On 19 July 2013 part of Level 18 in Investor Shaft, was re-claimed by the Company following the assistance received from Government.
On 21 July 2013, while the operation was still ongoing, tragically, Mr Mushi, a Company employee, was shot and killed by an armed illegal miner underground at Level 23, in Delta shaft in the presence of the Tanzania Police Force.
Richland is greatly saddened by the death of Mr Mushi, a valued colleague, and our deepest sympathies are with his family at this time. The Company now awaits further news from the police investigation into Mr Mushi's killing, currently being carried out by the Tanzanian Police force, which we hope this will lead to a swift arrest of the perputrators.
The Regional Police Commissioner and Regional Crimes Officer are now at the mine site with additional security to secure ongoing operations on the mine and the safety of our workforce while the Field Force initiative continues with the full support of the Government.
Ed Nealon, Chairman commented today: "On behalf of the Company I would like to convey our sincerest condolences to Mr Mushi's family for their tragic loss. We now await further updates on the police investigation into Mr Mushi's killing and we welcome the Governments action against the illegal and violent mining activities".
END
For more information please contact:
Bernard Olivier
Chief Executive Officer
+61(0) 4089 48182
+255 (0) 767600993
Edward Nealon
Chairman
+61(0) 409 969 955
Nominated Advisor & Broker (AIM)
RFC Ambrian Limited
Samantha Harrison/Jen Boorer
+44 (0) 20 3440 6800
Notes to the Editor:
Further information is available on the Company's website: www.richlandresourcesltd.com. Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.