Preventing Covid-19 infections

Covid-19 became a major workplace safety issue for all miners in the first quarter of 2020 and the Group took early action
to protect its employees and contractors.

Infection control measures were established at all sites in the early stages of the outbreak. Access to the Aktogay and Bozshakol sites was closed from 22 March until the end of May 2020 to protect the safety of workers and contractors, who live in close proximity in permanent camps at these locations. Operations were maintained in this initial period through overtime shifts, with rosters extended to maintain a Covid-free site and prevent outside contamination, whilst protective measures for rotations were put in place. Any workers who were not required to remain on sites were transferred to working from home.

When some of the restrictions in Kazakhstan were lifted in May, the Group rotated staff in its camp-based sites and introduced a revised shift pattern. The aim of the new extended shift pattern was to reduce the number of rotations and to enable the introduction of a system of testing and isolation for new arrivals.

The Group purchased sufficient quantities of rapid and PCR testing kits, installed a dedicated PCR testing facility at the Aktogay site from July and created segregated accommodation areas for new arrivals to stay in isolation before moving into the main workforce.

Under current national regulations in Kazakhstan, all employees must undergo PCR testing at home, three days before departing for the site. The Group arranges transport to its camp-based sites, applying hygiene and infection control measures during the journey.

On arrival at Aktogay or Bozshakol, employees are placed temporarily in isolation accommodation, where they complete further testing, using both rapid tests and PCR tests.

The combination of the multi-stage testing process and an isolation period minimised the risk of an infection reaching the main workforce, with all PCR positive cases not entering the main workforce. The Group’s on-site medical facilities and emergency procedures were proven to be effective during the pandemic.

The prompt actions taken to protect against Covid-19 ensured that risks to employees and contractors were minimised, and there were no material impacts to the Group’s operations during 2020, whilst production guidance for all metals, set in February before the pandemic occurred, was achieved.