Remote Mining Operation Strikes Gold with IDAS™

Rosebel Gold Mine, Suriname – Located in the mineral-rich Guiana Shield of Suriname, South America, the Rosebel Gold Mine lies approximately 25 miles south of Paramaribo, the country's capital city and main seaport. Abundant natural resources, including bauxite, oil, gold, iron ore and forestry, fuel the economy of Suriname, a former Dutch colony and the smallest independent country in South America with a population of approximately 500,000.

While gold was first discovered in the Rosebel area in 1879, commercial production did not start until 2004. By the end of 2010, the gold mine, owned and operated by Canadian company IAMGOLD, was producing nearly one million ounces of gold. This rapid expansion produced a set of unique challenges for the Rosebel Gold Mine, including the need to keep up with the facility's growing communications requirements.

"We very quickly outgrew our original radio system," explains Bill Thomas, IT Superintendent for IAMGOLD's Rosebel operation. "We have grown so large over the last 5 to 6 years that our system simply became too busy and crowded."

Read how an IDAS system helped Rosebel address their expansion challenges. (pdf)