The main warehouse of the titanium miner, Sierra Rutile has been destroyed by fire, ManoReporters has learnt.
The incident at the company’s main operations site in Rutile, Bonthe District, occurred in the afternoon of Saturday, February 19, between the hours of 1pm and 2pm, a source who witnessed the incident said.
The company is not expected to release any statement before Sunday.
But sources familiar with incident say the authorities are already investigating the cause of the fire which is believed to have come from outside the warehouse.
The facility is said to be holding some of the most critical components needed for the operation of the mine, including spare parts for machines and heavy vehicles.
The area also housed preparation plants, according to the source who said the properties destroyed could run into millions of US Dollars’ worth.
“The warehouse was totally destroyed… The materials kept in there are very vital to the operation of the mines,” the source said.
The scene of the fire incident is also said to be close to the powerhouse. But our source said the company’s fire fighters were quickly deployed to seal the powerhouse from the raging fire.
Sierra Rutile is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian sand miner Iluka Resources. It produces high quality rutile, ilmenite and zircon from what is considered as the world’s largest natural rutile deposit in the districts of Bonthe and Moyamba.
