Omai resumes milling as roadblock lifted

The Omai mine in north-central Guyana has returned to production following a week-long shutdown caused by local protests.

Omai, in which Cambior (CBJ-T) owns a 95% interest and the Government of Guyana the remaining 5%, was shut down for two days starting April 10 for scheduled maintenance, but production was suspended on April 13 when local residents, protesting a power failure in the nearby town of Linden, dug a trench in the road to Omai.

With no fuel trucks making the trip to the mine site, the mine, which relies on diesel power, was forced to shut down.

Negotiations between the government and local residents started on April 11 and the blockade was lifted on April 16. Power to the town, whose power plant broke down on March 30, has not yet been restored.

Cambior said it did not expect a significant shortfall in production for the year. Omai is scheduled to produce 273,000 oz. gold in 2003.