MELBOURNE, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- A historic copper mine in the Australian island state of Tasmania will resume production 15 years after operations were halted following the deaths of three workers.
The Tasmanian government on Wednesday welcomed the decision by South African miner Sibanye-Stillwater to restart production at the Mount Lyell copper mine on the state's west coast from 2029.
Sibanye-Stillwater said in its half-year results released on Tuesday that its board has approved the Mount Lyell project, with project execution planned to begin in the first half of 2027 and total project capital of approximately 490 million Australian dollars (about 350 million U.S. dollars).
Felix Ellis, Tasmania's minister for Business, Industry and Resources, said in a statement on Wednesday that the restart would create up to 300 jobs.
"The restart will bring new investment, well-paid jobs and long-term economic confidence to the region," he said.
The mine, which opened in the 1890s, was placed into care and maintenance in 2014 after three workers died in two separate incidents. ■