Media Release

Solid Energy halts blasting at mine after fall into creek

Solid Energy has temporarily stopped blasting at the perimeter of its Strongman Opencast Mine, near Greymouth, as the result of an incident that is under investigation by the company.

Solid Energy believes that blasting at the mine triggered a slide of water and rock down a steep slope into the Ten Mile Creek, which has raised the level of the streambed and created ponding upstream.

Solid Energy has notified the incident to the West Coast Regional Council (WCRC) and the Department of Conservation (DOC). The company intends to change immediately the blasting practices of its mining contractor, Doug Hood Ltd, and to increase surveillance of the blasting and the surrounding area. Solid Energy has already begun revegetating the affected slope using hydroseeding techniques.

Solid Energy's South Island Environmental Manager, Mark Pizey comments: "It is unclear whether the fall into the stream was a single event triggered by mining activity, or a series of subsequent movements during heavy rainfall over the past month.

"Solid Energy had made substantial efforts to avoid any impact on the environment around the opencast area so it is very disappointing that this has happened. We regret it deeply and will do everything we can to mitigate the impact of this fall and to put in place procedures to minimise the possibility of something like this happening again," he said.

Mark Pizey added that the contractor, Hoods, would be implementing new blasting and site management practices. Blasting at the mine perimeter could resume early next week. Under the new arrangements Solid Energy will monitor blasting and the slopes around the pit using video or photography.

Solid Energy had taken WCRC and DOC representatives to the site earlier this week and provided them with a copy of the new operating plan.