Trigon Metals has temporarily suspended its operations for an anticipated six to nine months due to the failure of its two main submersible dewatering pumps.
The company says it is implementing a comprehensive recovery plan, including advanced repairs and upgrades to critical equipment, to ensure long-term operational resilience and efficiency.
“While dewatering activities will pause during this period, the company has a clear pathway to resume operations in Q3/Q4 2025, with enhanced systems designed to mitigate future risks,” Trigon Metals said.
According to the company, the submersible pumps are crucial to the company’s operations at the Kombat Mine, and the unexpected breakdowns have left Trigon with no immediate solution for the complete restoration of its systems.
“Both pumps have been hoisted out of the shafts and sent to a third-party engineering firm for independent verification of the root causes of the failures,” Trigon Metals said.
During the recovery period, Trigon Metals will retrench most of its onsite employees and reduce the temporary workforce at the mine site to align with this short-term operational adjustment.
The company says this decision, while necessary under the current circumstances, is one of its greatest regrets, as the company values its team and recognises the impact this will have on its employees and their families.
Those workers who will be retrenched will receive generous severance packages, extended healthcare benefits, and dedicated job placement assistance in collaboration with local partners.
Trigon Metals CEO Jed Richardson said while this temporary pause is not the outcome they envisioned, it is a critical step to strengthen Kombat’s infrastructure for sustained success.
Richardson added that the team is already advancing solutions to modernise the systems, ensuring a return to operations with greater reliability and efficiency.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to our employees and contractors, whose dedication has been instrumental in our progress to date, and to our stakeholders for their unwavering trust.
“Trigon is committed to emerging from this phase as a more resilient company, poised to deliver value for years to come,” Richardson said.
During this challenging period, Trigon Metals shareholder Knowledge Katti acknowledged the valid concerns of the Kombat community and all Trigon Mining employees.
Katti said while this temporary pause is a setback, it is also an opportunity to strengthen the foundation for the future.
“Our commitment to Kombat remains unwavering—we are dedicated to ensuring that operations resume more sustainable than before. We will continue working to support our workforce and the broader community through this transition. Together, we will come back stronger,” Katti said.
Trigon Metals reassured stakeholders that it is exploring all viable options to restore operations quickly and minimise service disruption.
The company said it actively engaged with technical experts and partners to accelerate repairs and explore innovative dewatering solutions.
