Restrictions in their home province have sharply curtailed exploration activity for Québec driller Orbit Garant.
The Val d’Or-based drilling company said operations in Quebec are suspended until further notice as a result of the provincial government’s order to minimize non-essential business activities until at least April 13.
But the company remains active on most of its drilling projects in Ontario, New Brunswick and Nunavut, although drilling activity on certain projects has been temporarily reduced.
Internationally, the company said, operations are significantly reduced as result of government restrictions on business activity to control the spread COVID-19, or customer decisions to reduce or delay certain projects.
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In an April 1 news release, Orbit Garant said the health and safety of its personnel, customers, suppliers, and the communities where they operate remain a priority.
The company said, to date, no employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Orbit Garant said they are closely monitoring this public health crisis and have taken precautionary health and safety measures and controls across its operations, based on the recommendations issued by local health authorities and governments in the various jurisdictions where they work.
"Our management team continues to monitor our operations, government directives within the jurisdictions that we operate in and precautionary measures to prioritize the health and safety of our personnel," said president-CEO Eric Alexandre in a statement.
"We will assess any new developments related to COVID-19 and related restrictions on economic activity as they arise, and provide appropriate updates on our operations and financial liquidity in a timely manner."
Orbit Garant is one of the largest Canadian-based mineral drilling companies with more than 1,300 employees and 233 drill rigs working in Canada and internationally.
