Metals Exploration resumes ops at Runruno after Typhoon Rosita cleanup

Metals Exploration on Friday said mining and processing operations at its Runruno project in the Philippines had resumed after temporary repairs to the site’s bridge crossing.

The AIM-listed exploration and development outfit revealed that neither the mine nor the processing plant had sustained any “material damage” from the impact of Typhoon Rosita and that its BIOX circuit had continued to respond “positively” as it was ramped back up to its pre-typhoon operational throughput.

Metals Exploration said Rosita, which passed directly over Runruno bringing torrential rain and high winds and depositing 354mm of water over the mine, had only made “short-term impacts” on operations in Nueva Vizcaya.

Physical damage was said to be limited to “superficial impacts on infrastructure” including signs, erosion of road surfaces and causeways which have now been repaired. The now repaired national road between Runruno and Solano was cut off as a result of the storm.

“The mine's disaster planning team had effected its typhoon preparation plan several days earlier and executed it to precision before, during and after the event which minimised the impacts and improved the safety of the company's workforce and the neighbouring communities," the company said.

No injuries were reported.

Metals Exploration shares had shot up 9.09% to 1.50p at 1135 GMT.