Directors: A J Wright (Chairman), N J Holland
†**
(Chief Executive Officer), P A Schmidt** (Chief Financial Officer), K Ansah
#
, C A Carolus,
R Dañino*, A R Hill
≠
, J G Hopwood, R P Menell, D N Murray, D M J Ncube, R L Pennant-Rea
†
, C I von Christierson, G M Wilson
†
British,
≠
Canadian,
#
Ghanaian, *Peruvian, ** Executive Director
Corporate Secretary: C Farrel
Gold Fields Limited
Reg. 1968/004880/06
150 Helen Road,
Sandown, Sandton,
2196
Postnet Suite 252
Private Bag X30500
Houghton, 2041
South Africa
Tel +27 11 562-9700
Fax +27 11 562-9838
www.goldfields.co.za
Enquiries
Media and Investor Enquiries
Willie Jacobsz
Tel
+508 839-1188
Mobile +857 241-7127
email Willie.Jacobsz@gfexpl.com
Nikki Catrakilis-Wagner
Tel
+27 11 562-9706
Mobile +27 (0) 83 309-6720
email Nikki.Catrakilis-Wagner@
goldfields.co.za
Media Enquiries
Julian Gwillim
Tel
+27 11 562-9774
Mobile +27 (0) 82 452 4389
email Julian.Gwillim@goldfields.co.za
MEDIA RELEASE
DRIEFONTEIN RESUMES OPERATIONS FOLLOWING A SIX
DAY CLOSURE
Johannesburg, 15 December 2009: Gold Fields Limited (Gold
Fields) (JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ Dubai: GFI) today announced that the
Driefontein Gold Mine had resumed production with the
commencement of the morning shift on Monday, 14 December 2009.
Blasting and on-reef development activities at the mine were
suspended on Monday, 7 December 2009, following a number of
seismic events in which two employees were fatally injured.
The mine was closed for a full week, mainly as a result of the
complexity of the rescue and recovery effort and the fact that normal
drilling and blasting activities could not proceed simultaneously with
the rescue operation, as it would have placed rescue teams and other
employees at risk. The rescue and recovery effort was completed late
on Thursday, after which the normal risk assessment procedures and
inspections took place.
Nick Holland, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields said: “We deeply
regret the loss of our colleagues and have expressed our deepest
condolences to their families. We have also offered our full support to
help them cope with this unexpected tragedy. This incident again
underscores our total commitment not to mine if we cannot mine
safely, as well as the extreme urgency with which we are searching
for a step change in our ability to effectively deal with the ever-
present and unpredictable risk of seismicity.”
Nick Holland also thanked the various teams and other employees
who participated in the rescue and recovery effort for their
commitment and courage, and expressed appreciation towards the
Department of Mineral Resources for their support throughout the
process.
The suspension of blasting and development activities at Driefontein
has resulted in six days of lost production, which is expected to have
a material impact on production results of both Driefontein and the
Group as a whole for the quarter ending 31 December 2009.
Updated production guidance for the December quarter will be
provided early in January 2010, after the close of the quarter.
ends