The Department of Primary Industry and Resources of Australia's Northern Territory approved the resumption of operations of OM Holdings Ltd.'s subsidiary OM Manganese Ltd. at the Bootu Creek manganese mine.

Operations at the mine were suspended in August, following the death of an employee due to an accident.

OM Holdings said Dec. 24 that the in-pit mining operations can restart in a staged manner, with each stage subject to independent review and approval by nominated parties.

There is no current proposal for any in-pit mining operations in the Tourag Pit where the accident took place.