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Such initiatives reinforce the impor-
tance of communication between con-
tractors and clients.
“With clients, we rely on each very
heavily,” De Leo said. “Perseus has been
excellent, and we have worked very co-
operatively across the board mitigating
schedule slippages.”
Norwell’s experience is similar
“We have a really positive relationship
with all our clients, we are in the same boat
and have been helping each other,” he said.
For Quartermaine, the relationship with
host communities becomes even more vital Underground specialist AUMS is finding new ways of operating within the COVID
restrictions in place in Africa
during such crises. remotely and in Australia we have teams
“ The health and wellbeing of the workforce doing split shifts so they can provide sup-

port to African operations in the correct time
zones. We feel confident in what we have
is paramount at both but there are
established. We have a two-year outlook
of what may eventuate, and our focus is on
logistical issues around charters and cross-
border movement in Cote d’Ivoire whereas in
“Internally we also want to make sure
we have captured the best aspects of this
WA it is about social distancing protocols and further adaptability.
when we enter the new normal; how we can
ensuring systems are in place. work differently and better.”
At Lycopodium, understanding how to
operate in a COVID world over a longer pe-
riod is a prime focus.
“We moved quickly to ensure that our the crisis abates. Only at that time will we “My view of the pandemic, more like a
host communities [where large numbers be in a position to judge the success of our fog. It will lift and things will kick off again
of our employees live] were equipped to response.” because the fundamentals are looking
deal with what was expected to come,” he Norwell said Perenti was already looking good,” De Leo said.
said. “This involved donating supplies of at ways it could adjust to new realities. The key is to do all we can to assist cli-
health materials to the clinics that we had “We don’t see COVID-19 going away so ents. Getting projects as shovel ready as
previously established in the area, promot- we must work out how to make the busi- possible and help them explain to funders
ing publicity to educate our hosts about the ness sustainable in a COVID-19 world. how the projects will progress and assure
benefits of social distancing and maintain- “The critical focus is of course around those financiers projects are deliverable.
ing hygiene and also sending staff and health and well-being and now the task- “It may be about making projects COVID-
equipment to disinfect high traffic zones in force is managing the logistics of aviation friendly, through modularisation or supply
surrounding villages. We also contributed and dealing with government laws and reg- chain management, etc.
money to funds established by our host ulations to ensure we can get people in and “The use of technology has also in-
governments to fund the fight against COV- out smoothly. creased. It is possible that it will fast-track
ID on a national scale.” “We are also using technology, operating digital twinning and the impetus behind digi-
Resolute did similar work in Mali and talisation has increased.”
Senegal with $1 million donations to each Barnes said with the situation still devel-
government and establishing programmes oping in West Africa, no one should assume
on site and in local communities. they were “out of the woods by a long shot”.
While Australian miners on the continent “The saving grace is that the death rate
appear to have negotiated the onset of the is as low as it has been compared to most
pandemic, questions remain about the other regions in the world but the numbers
longer-term impacts on host communities, are still rising so miners still have great chal-
employees and operations. lenges, particularly if their communities and
Quartermaine said Perseus was under their workforce see increases in cases.
no illusions about the challenges to come. “If you have an outbreak at a mine site
“Perseus has been able to successfully anyone who has come into contact with that
maintain business continuity and minimise person then has to be quarantined. The im-
the impact of COVID on our operations, our pact of having people quarantined for two
people and our host communities,” he said. weeks on top of all the other quarantines
“However, the rate of reported COVID in- with travel will put an extra burden on the
fections continues to climb in West Africa at operating capacity which will challenge any
a disturbing rate and the adequacy of our company.”
responses will be thoroughly tested before – Dominic Piper and Mark Andrews
Peter De Leo

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