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Kumtor Operating Company News Release
KUMTOR OPERATING COMPANY
24 IBRAIMOV STR., BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN 720031
TEL.+ 996(312) 42-24-88, 42-22-82 FAX + 996(312) 54-08-50,
42-48--91
July 8, 2002
Kumtor Operating Company (KOC) informs that a pit wall failure occurred at the Kumtor mine site.There are serious apprehensions that the failure has left one victim.
The wall failure, its top starting at bench 4298 meters and the slide base being at bench 4018 meters, happened at 2:50 p.m. on July 8, 2002. The slide base is 250 meters wide and its height is 280 meters.
The missing mine worker, Almaz Jakishev, 25 years old, resident of Bishkek, did not report at a roll-call. There is a strong possibility that he was buried by the slide in the failure area. Almaz's family was duly notified about the accident. Rescue crews continue searching.
Kumtor has taken necessary precautions: entry to the area has been sealed off, all mining operations were immediately stopped, the pit was shut down pending the investigation and arrival of the inspecting team of the State Inspectorate for Production Safety and Mining Surveillance (Gosgortechnadzor) under the Ministry of Environment and Emergencies of the Kyrgyz Republic. Three blast hole drills have been reported damaged.
As prescribed by the Emergency Response Plan, the joint venture partners and the head of Gosgortechnadzor were immediately notified about the accident.
Other authorities notified: the Ministry of Environment and Emergencies of the Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek and Karakol offices; regional and oblast departments of police and public prosecutor's office.
The investigation of the accident started immediately.
The Kumtor Gold Company joint venture is owned two-thirds by the government of Kyrgyzstan and one-third by the Canadian Cameco Corporation. Kumtor Operating Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cameco, is the project operator.
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For further information please contact:
Tinara Shaildaeva, Manager, Corporate Relations,
Kumtor Operating Company
Tel.: (312) 42-22-82; 42-24-88; Fax: (312) 54-08-50