(Ecofin Agency) - This week, Randgold Resources announced the resumption of its activities at Tongon gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire following the lifting of a lock-out imposed on the workers after a long illegal strike.

According to a statement published by the company, the management, workers, community leaders, and the government reached an agreement under which, the workers will be “re-employed in phases aligned to the start-up of the mine’s various sections”.  The agreement also stipulates that the previous discussions which were aimed at stopping the occasional social problems at the mine should resume where they were stopped.

Because of that labor disruption, Randgold revised Tongon mine’s 2018 production forecast which is now estimated at 230,000 ounces.

Randgold Resources employs more than 1,700 workers (including 40 expatriates). Since 2010 when Tongon mine entered into production, it has produced more than 2.7 million ounces of gold.

Louis-Nino Kansoun