Newfield Resources has appointed Charl Barnard as General Manager of its Tongo diamond mine in Sierra Leone. The new GM will hold the tiller as Newfield heads for diamond production. The Tongo diamond mine comprises two adjacent mining licenses covering a combined 134 square kilometres in eastern Sierra Leone. It has an indicated and inferred diamond resource estimate of 8.3 million carats and is host to 11 identified diamond-bearing kimberlites, only five of which are incorporated in the current indicated and inferred diamond resource estimate.
Barnard is an experienced manager with a track record of over 25 years operating in eastern Europe, Central Asia, West, East and Southern Africa.
Notably, he has held senior roles for international diamond miner and LSE-listed Petra Diamonds. Newfield says his record of transitioning operations from the capital investment stage to the cash generative and production stages will serve the company well as it seeks to transition into production.
Newfield Resources Executive Director, Karl Smithson said:“ As Newfield transitions the Tongo Mine to its status as a producer of high-quality diamonds, Charl’s experience and track record of delivery will be an asset to the Company. Furthermore, with his strong background in underground diamond mining operations, HSE and ESG management Charl will drive this transition with a complete focus on compliance, safety and sustainability.”
Newfield is on the home straight now as it eyes diamond production at Tongo and the appointment of a GM with diamond mining experience was arguably the hardest box to tick as the company hurtles headlong towards production.
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By Matt Birney
