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A series of explosions at the mine tragically killed 29 miners in 2010 and the PRRA was set up to re-enter the mine as promised by NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Adern before she was elected.
Rick Lee formed part of a three-man team with PRRA chief operating officer Dinghy Pattinson and mine deputy Kirk Neilson that was part of the initial manned re-entry to the mine that took place on May 21.
The first inspection breached the 30m seal and inspected drift conditions a short distance inbye the seal.
"While a difficult and challenging project on many levels, SCT is committed to managing the geotechnical risk through the ongoing drift recovery phase and working alongside the PRRA, Families Reference Group and other key stakeholders," SCT said.
The re-entry phase marks the second stage of the PRRA's planned objectives. Stage 1 - the Planning Phase - was initiated early in 2018.
