Company announcements

Underground fire at Kusasalethu gold mine: rescue operation in progress

February 22, 2015

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Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited has announced that specially trained Mine Rescue teams have been deployed underground at the company’s Kusasalethu gold mine near Carletonville to rescue some 486 workers who were working underground when a fire started on the mine’s 75 level, approximately 2 300 metres below surface, at around 09:40 this morning (Sunday, 22 February 2015).

At present, some 287 of the 486 workers are confirmed to be safe in refuge bays underground, which are supplied with fresh air, water and telephone communication to surface. Mine Rescue teams are working to assist those in refuge bays and to locate the other workers.

The fire, believed to have started during maintenance work on a bulk air cooler on 75 level, is in the process of being contained by Mine Rescue teams and ventilation flow to the fire is being sealed off.

A further six Mine Rescue teams have been called out and are expected to be deployed on arrival at the mine to assist with the rescue.

All operations at the mine, other than those related to the rescue, have been suspended.

Further information will be released as this becomes available.

For more details contact:

Charmane Russell
+27 (0) 82 372 5816 (mobile)

Memory Johnstone
+27 (0) 82 719 3081 (mobile)

Pam McLeod
+27 (0) 82 872 6387 (mobile)

James Duncan
+27 (0) 79 336 4010 (mobile)