20100620
reuters

- A top Australian mining magnate and five other senior figures from iron ore miner Sundance Resources Ltd were aboard a company aircraft that disappeared in Africa, the company said on Sunday.



One of Australia's richest men, Ken Talbot, was on the flight that disappeared on Saturday on a flight from the Cameroon capital Yaounde to Yangadou in neighbouring Congo, the company said in a statement.

Talbot is a director of Perth-based Sundance Resources, which is trying to develop a major iron ore mine in Cameroon, and his own company Talbot Group is a major shareholder. Sundance Resources plans to bring the Mbalam iron ore project into production in 2012.

Also missing is Sundance Resources chairman Geoff Wedlock and chief executive Don Lewis, plus three other senior company figures, the company said. The six were among nine passengers on the flight who were on a visit to the company's iron ore projects in Cameroon and Congo.

A search for the aircraft by Cameroon, Congo and Gabon is under way, with assistance from Australian, Canadian and U.S. diplomats.

"All operations at site have been suspended, with all in-country resources dedicated to this search and rescue effort," the company said.

Sundance Resources said it would ask the Australian Stock Exchange to suspend its shares before trading opens on Monday.

Talbot is a well-known figure in Australian mining, as founder and former chief executive of Macarthur Coal.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has confirmed six Australians were on the flight.