Three mining bosses stepped down after their employer was found guilty of manslaughtering multiple workers.
Trevali confirmed Dan Isserow, Derek du Preez and Ricus Grimbeek will no longer serve as director, chief operating officer and president and CEO respectively.
“With the sales and investment solicitation process order obtained and the sales process underway for the company’s interests in the Rosh Pinah and Caribou mines, the board and Mr. Grimbeek determined that it was the appropriate time for him to step away from Trevali,” the company said in a public statement.
“Mr. du Preez will remain with the company until October 14, 2022 to support a transition of operational, technical and other aspects of the business.”
The bombshell came shortly after a Byrnecut Group manager and mine manager were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter at Trevali’s Perkoa mine, 120km west of Ouagadougou.
A Burkina Faso court earlier heard torrential rainfall and flash-flooding fatally drowned eight underground mine workers during the country’s dry season back in April 2022.
Rescue workers initially thought some missing employees could have survived in a refuge chamber about 570 metres beneath the surface. However, they discovered the area was empty one month later. The recovery effort took more than 66 days to completely remove the last of the bodies in June.
Grieving loved ones accused the employers of involuntary homicide, endangering lives and failing to help those in danger.
Subsidiary Nantou Mining previously confirmed the Perkoa mine manager was handed a 24-month suspended sentence, while the Byrnecut manager received a 12-month suspended sentence.
Burkina Faso Prime Minister Albert Ouedraogo also banned the pair from leaving the country during formal investigations, which were still underway at the time of publication.
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