Another worker killed in fresh Grasberg Mine cave in.

A worker has been killed in a cave in at the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold operated Grasberg Mine in Indonesian West Papua, less than two weeks after an incident on 14 May 2013, in which 38 workers were buried, killing 28 of them. The incident is described as having happened when a tunnel collapsed at an underground 'drop point' (possibly the terminus of an underground railway). 

An emergency responce team removing the body of one of the workers killed in the 14 May 2013 cave in. Freeport Indonesia.

Work at the mine was suspended following the 14 May incident, but partially resumed on Wednesday 29 May, officially for 'mining facilities and equipment maintenance'. Between 35 and 40% of the workers at the mine are said to have resumed work, with the All-Indonesian Workers Union in the Chemical, Energy and Mining Sectors, which represents about 18 000 of the 24 000 workers at the mine advising its members not to return till a full enquiry into the incident has been carried out. The union has also been angered by the suspension of pay negotiations following the 14 May cave in, something Freeport Indonesia claims it has done 'out of respect' but which the union describes as 'unethical'.

The Indonesian Government has also expressed opposition to the resumption of work at the mine, with Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik claiming that work should not resume without his permission, which will not be given until the results of an enquiry are in. However the company is claiming the decision to resume work is their responsibility, not that of the government.

The Grasberg Mine produces around 220 000 of concentrated ore per day, making it the world's second most productive copper mine. Around 80 000 tonnes of tonnes of this are from the underground mine, with the remainder from a large pit mine also at the site.

See also At least 20 miners killed in North Kivu mine collapse, 23 Miners still trapped after cave-in at gold and copper mine in Indonesian West Papua, Over 60 feared dead in Darfur gold mine collapse, Miner killed by gas on Mindanao Island and Chilean court suspends work at the Pascua-Lama Gold Mine over entironmental concerns.

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23 Miners still trapped after cave-in at gold and copper mine in Indonesian West Papua.

A cave in at a mine in Indonesian West Papua on Tuesday 14 May 2013 has killed five workers, with another 23 still trapped inside a tunnel. The incident happened at the Grasberg Mine, operated by Arizona-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold. The Grasberg Mine is the world's largest gold mine, and third largest copper mine, employing over 19 000 workers.

Rescue Workers in a tunnel at the Grasberg Mine on 17 May 2013. PT Freeport Indonesia/AP.

The Grasberg Mine comprises an open pit mine covering 24 700 acres, and an 'exploration zone' covering a further 500 000 acres; the 14 May incident occurred in a tunnel used for training purposes. The mine has previously suffered from landslides during the monsoon season, which have been linked to over-steep sides in the main pit. The area is also prone to Earthquakes. The mine has been plagued by other problems. The facility has come under attack by the Free Papua Movement (who seek independence from Indonesia) on a number of occasions, which has provoked brutal reprisals from the Indonesian security forces, reportedly involving hundreds of deaths. The site is accused of being responsible for severe environmental problems in the region, where local rivers are described as almost devoid of fish, due to mine tailings and acid runoff entering the water system. The site has been subject to investor boycotts and has had difficulty in gaining insurance due to environmental violations. The site has also suffered several strikes due to workers complaining about low wages and lack of safety. 

The main open pit at the Grasberg Mine - described as the 'Earth's biggest hole in the ground'. West Papua Media.

Operations at the mine have ceased while rescue attempts continue. Workers are said to be holding a sit-in on a road close to the site.

See also Over 60 feared dead in Darfur gold mine collapse, Chilean court suspends work at the Pascua-Lama Gold Mine over entironmental concerns, Two Sierra Leonean artisanal miners killed by soil cave-in, Chilean miners strike after landslip kills worker and 83 feared dead after Tibetan landslip.

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