18-Day Blockade Ends at Lulo Mine
February 21, 25
(IDEX Online) - The blockade that disrupted work at the Lulo alluvial diamond mine in Angola has ended peacefully, Lucapa said yesterday (20 February) and mining has resumed.
Angry locals protested outside the mine for 18 days in a dispute with Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo - Lucapa's operating unit - over its commitment to social programs in the community.
Lucapa said ore processing continued during the blockade, with diamonds being recovered from stockpiled gravel and tailings.
Carat recoveries remain on track against targets for the month, the Australian miner said in a statement.
The Lulo mine commands the world's highest price per carat for alluvial diamonds. It is owned by Lucapa (40 per cent), Endiama (32 per cent) and Rosas & Petalas (28 per cent).
Lucapa said: "Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo, the operating entity of Lulo, will review its alluvial mining plan, to attempt to mitigate the impact caused by the disruption and catch up on the overburden stripping and gravel mining that would ordinarily have occurred over the period."
It said SML had reiterated its commitment to its existing social programs, which will continue as planned over the life of the mine.
Pic of Lulo processing plant courtesy Lucapa.