(Kitco News) – Sibanye-Stillwater (NYSE: SBSW) today reported a significant flood event, which began on Monday 13 June 2022, and has affected a widespread region surrounding its US PGM operations in Montana, USA.
According to the company’s statement, the flooding of numerous rivers in the region followed a warm spell that led to the rapid melting of accumulated snow in the mountains and associated runoff, which was exacerbated by heavy rainfall over the weekend.
The company said that no injuries have been reported, adding that all employees at the Stillwater mine, the operation that has been most affected, are safe.
A number of employees are at the Stillwater mine site to maintain the integrity of the mine, and to provide refuge and support for campers that are arriving from the nearby Woodbine campground, Sibanye added.
“The road between Nye and the Stillwater mine has been eroded and several bridges in the region damaged. This is likely to restrict access to the Stillwater mine for some period that will be better known in the next few days. The East Boulder mine is less affected and access currently remains intact,” the company informed in its press-release.
Importantly, the company said that a full assessment of the regional impact of the floods and the impact on the operations will be undertaken once the floodwaters have subsided, likely within the next few days, and this will be communicated to the market in due course.
Sibanye-Stillwater is a multinational mining and metals Group with a diverse portfolio of mining and processing operations and projects and investments across five continents. The Group is also one of the foremost global PGM autocatalytic recyclers and has interests in leading mine tailings retreatment operations.