Randgold workers down tools at Tongon mine

Work at Randgold Resources' Tongon mine in Côte d'Ivoire has been interrupted as workers go on strike.

The FTSE 100 mining giant has been in an on-and-off industrial relations dispute with its workers at Tongon for many months.

On Monday afternoon Randgold said that the strike over the weekend interrupted a government-led process process to try and resolve the dispute.

"Management continues to engage with the authorities and the unions to resolve the situation," the company said in a statement.

Gold production in the first quarter of the year was dented by in part by the industrial relations issue, though management have maintained group-wide guidance of 1.3-1.35m ounces for 2018.

In April, Randgold's management said they were not sure Tongon would achieve its 290,000 oz production forecast for the year.

Last year there was a five-day sit-in over disputed ex-gratia payments but gold production from the mine hit 288,680 ounces with total cash costs of $676 per oz.

Based on current reserves, the mine has just over three years of productive life left.