Premier to Restart Safe Operations at Mercedes
Premier Gold announces the Company’s 100%-owned Mercedes Mine, located in the State of Sonora, Mexico, will begin a safe, phased restart of operations beginning June 1, 2020. This restart is following the Mexican Health Ministry’s decree on May 13, 2020 that amends the March 30, 2020 decree to include mining as an essential service effective June 1, 2020.
The Mercedes mine was placed on care and maintenance on April 1, 2020 in response to the Mexican federal government’s mandate that all non-essential businesses temporarily suspend operations. The management team has been developing a restart plan that will provide for a safe mine site environment that delivers cash flow from operations while working under the mandated sanitation measures required by government.
On site manpower will be increased progressively as it is deemed safe, with the initial focus being the development of ramps in Lupita Extension and Diluvio West to access higher grade mineralization. Diamond drilling crews will be added in early June to resume delineation drilling programs. It is anticipated that by early July the mine will once again be fully operational.
This phased ramp-up of operations is expected to take 6 to 8 weeks and will ensure all required sanitation measures mandated by the government are met. The Company will continue to utilize protective measures for workers and neighboring communities including screening, physical distancing, deep-cleaning, and avoiding exposure for at-risk individuals.
“We are pleased to report no known cases of Covid-19 at the mine,” stated Peter van Alphen, Chief Operating Officer at Premier. “Our focus remains the health and safety of our employees, contractors, their families and the neighboring communities during the restart. I would like to thank all our employees for their ongoing support during this difficult and unprecedented time.”
