Approximately 380 workers jobs have been cut as Consolidated Minerals place the Woodie Woodie mine in care and maintenance.
Workers were informed of the decision late last week, which will affect the 330 FTE and 50 contractors on site, according to the ABC.
The miner blamed falling manganese prices as the driver behind the operation’s closure.
“Despite the relentless efforts and substantial achievements of our leadership group, our employees and our suppliers to transform Woodie Woodie into a globally competitive operation which we can all be proud of, the price for manganese ore is now so low that continuing to operate is no longer an option,” Consolidated Minerals managing director Paul Muller said.
Woodie Woodie is the second Australian manganese mine to close in as many months, after OM Holdings placed its Bootu Creek manganese mine – in the Northern Territory – into care and maintenance in December.
That same month South32 announced its plans to lay off more than 400 workers from its manganese operations in South Africa.
Consmin will keep approximately 30 workers on staff, 15 onsite and 15 at its head office in Perth, to restart operations once the commodity picks up again.