Management at Tara Mines in Navan say proposals put forward by unions will not sufficiently address the significant and unsustainable losses that the business is currently experiencing, and placing the mine into care and maintenance from mid-July is unavoidable.
In a statement this morning, the company says it has reviewed in detail all the proposals that have been presented, and believe that a number of the measures presented have the potential to deliver benefits over the medium to long term.
General Manager Gunnar Nystrom says the decision has not been taken lightly, but the company believes this is the best course of action to safeguard the long-term future of the mine.
However Sinn Fein TD for Meath West Johnny Guirke and Sinn Fein TD for Meath East Darren O Rourke have expressed their disappointment at Tara Mines latest statement and imminent closure on July 14th
Guirke said, ‘The news coming out this morning is extremely concerning for all those affected by the closure of Tara Mines.
We had met with Management and thought that talks with the Unions were going well, and that something could be done to save all the staff jobs.
I wrote to Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister Simon Coveney calling for a meeting with them, Tara Mines management and elected representatives and I called for government intervention to save jobs.
O’Rourke added, ‘The Government could do more to ease the pressure on Boliden Tara Mine management, this could come with a reduction in energy costs and better access to funding to help keep the plant up and running.
‘We can’t control the cost of zinc, but we can help with energy prices in our state.
‘The loss of so many jobs will have a knock on effect on local businesses and families, the closure of Tara Mines just doesn’t hit 650 staff.’
FULL STATEMENT FROM TARA
28th June 2023: Following its announcement on 13 June 2023 that the mine would enter a ‘care and maintenance’ period, Boliden Tara Mines has engaged extensively with representatives from the company’s group of unions.
The Boliden Tara Mines management team attended two days of constructive meetings with the union representatives on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 June 2023, at which the unions presented suggestions for costs saving and operational improvements.
The management has reviewed in detail all the proposals that have been presented, and believe that a number of the measures presented have the potential to deliver benefits to our operation over the medium to long term.
Unfortunately, the proposals will not sufficiently address, in the short term, the significant and unsustainable losses that the business is currently experiencing. These losses have been driven by several factors including a decline in the price of zinc, high energy prices, general cost inflation and operational challenges.
It is therefore with great regret that the decision to temporarily suspend operations and place the mine into care and maintenance from mid-July is unavoidable.
Boliden Tara Mines General Manager Gunnar Nystrom said: “We have not taken this decision lightly, but we believe this is the best course of action to safeguard the long-term future of the mine. We will continue to work constructively with all stakeholders to ensure the operation can re-open as soon as possible.”
