Canada’s Iamgold lays off 325 Suriname contractors after illegal miner’s death (Reuters Canada – August 20, 2019)

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(Reuters) – Canadian miner Iamgold Corp (IMG.TO) has dismissed 325 contractors from its Rosebel gold mine in Suriname while it works to restore security after a clash between illegal miners and police, a company spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

The mining industry is grappling with a rising number of illegal miners, also known as artisanal miners, who break into sites in search of metals. At least 43 illegal miners died at a Glencore (GLEN.L) facility last month in Congo after a landslide.

Toronto-based Iamgold said earlier this month it had suspended mining operations at Rosebel after 25-year-old Furgill Aloeboetoe gained access to the site and died following an incident with police. Police later confirmed he was shot.

Some heavy-haul equipment at the mine was set on fire after Aloeboetoe died. An investigation is ongoing.

The company continues to process stockpiled material at its mill, but has lowered its full-year production guidance to between 765,000 to 810,000 ounces of gold, owing partly to reduced output at Rosebel.

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