Canadian miners Hudbay Minerals and SSR Mining have temporarily suspended operations in Western Canada as an outbreak of fires spread across the region’s north.
Hudbay said it has enacted its emergency preparedness procedures and enabled a controlled, safe and orderly temporary suspension of operations in Snow Lake, Manitoba. Only essential Hudbay personnel, authorized by emergency services, will remain in Snow Lake to assist with emergency activities. Additionally, the miner has paused exploration activities in the Flin Flon and Snow Lake regions.
“The safety of our employees, their families, our First Nations partners and the communities we serve remains our top priority. With the wildfires spreading, Hudbay has taken additional actions to support our employees, including $1 million in direct financial support and establishing a Community Relief Donations Fund,” said Rob Carter, senior vice president, Canada.
“We are collaborating closely with local communities and municipal and provincial authorities to provide support during this challenging time. We will continue to monitor the situation, ensuring a safe return to full operations as soon as it is advisable.”
SSR Mining said operations at its Seabee gold mine in Northern Saskatchewan have been temporarily suspended due to power interruptions caused by the nearby fires. “At this stage, the fire does not pose an immediate threat to the site and infrastructure, however normal-course safety precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of our staff,” the company said.
Sources: Hudbay Minerals and SSR Mining