Galaxy Resources has been forced to extend the shutdown of its chemical plant in east China after an industrial accident less than two weeks ago, which killed one of its workers and badly burned ten others.

The Perth-based miner said in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange yesterday that following discussions with government safety bureaus it didn’t think it was possible “to resolve the investigation, complete repairs and achieve final site clearance within the stated three- week shutdown period, as had previously been expected."