LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - South Africa, Kenya and Ghana-focussed gold producer Goldplat updated the market on its operations on Friday, explaining they were currently curtailed due to government restrictions intended to combat the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The AIM-traded firm said it had planned a partial restart of its operations in South Africa.

It said the pandemic was continuing to escalate, with a number of governments forced to take further steps to combat the outbreak by extending their respective lockdown periods.

Goldplat said it was being guided by the respective government directives in the countries it operates, including any aspect that prohibited continued operations.

"To date all Goldplat's operations, in Ghana, South Africa and in Kenya, have been affected by government restrictions and protocols," the board said in its statement.

As it announced on 25 March, Goldplat's South African operation closed for a period of 21 days from 26 March.

On Friday, it said the South African government had now announced an extension of the lockdown for 14 days, from midnight on 16 April.

It did, however, note that under the country's Disaster Management Act and its coronavirus regulations, the production of gold had been designated an essential service.

"In this context, Goldplat has informed the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) that it will restart operations on a reduced basis by 20 April," the board said in its statement.

"Measures have been taken to enable employees to operate in a hygienic environment including employees being screened and cleared for work.

"The operations will comply with the DMRE request to ensure the health and safety of our employees during the lockdown period."

Goldplat said that in Ghana, although in certain large cities a lockdown had been imposed, the mining sector had been classified as essential by the government, with the company's operation in the country continuing at "almost normal" levels.

The firm's Kilimapesa gold plant, together with the mine, was still under care and maintenance.

"The safety of our people is our highest priority and whilst in operation, in whichever jurisdiction, we will continue to protect the business, staff, and general population by complying with heightened hygiene measures, restrictions on site visits and travel in general, amongst others."

At 1304 BST, shares in Goldplat were up 3.16% at 3.92p.

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