Mine 'worth nothing' until 29 dead recovered, family rep says

Wednesday 20th April 2011

A representative of the families who lost men in the Pike River Mine disaster says the mine is "worth nothing" until the remains of the 29 dead men are recovered.

Receivers are seeking expressions of interest from parties interested in buying the underground mine near Greymouth which was rocked by explosions last November.

They describe the mine as a valuable resource, with more than 17.6 million tonnes of saleable coal and upside potential from an additional hard coking coal seam.

Expressions of interest must be registered before May 2.

Yesterday police said their operations at the mine had cost almost $11 million.

Bernie Monk, a spokesman for the families of those who died at Pike River, today said the receivers had an obligation to recover the remains of the men and, speaking personally, when the mine was sold to pay back the $11 million spent by police.

"Yesterday was five months since we've lost our guys. They went to work one day and they didn't come back," Monk told Radio New Zealand.

"What I'm saying to them at the moment, until they go down and get those guys out of the mine, that mine, and I'm telling the world, that it's worth nothing."

NZPA

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