PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Platinum Australia would restart underground operations at its strike-hit Smokey Hills mine in South Africa early next week, the company reported on Thursday.

Contract miner Redpath Mining dismissed striking workers who brought the Smokey Hill platinum mine to a halt this week, but indicated that it would consider the dismissed employees for re-employment, if an appeal was lodged by the end of this week.

Around 400 workers, or 80% of Redpath Mining’s workforce, had submitted appeals for re-employment, and it was anticipated that the balance of the work force would submit applications by Saturday.

Platinum Australia said that the underground operations would restart with a full complement of staff, available on both shifts. The ramp-up to normal operations at Smokey Hills would take a further two days, following the restart of underground mining.

During the six months ending December, around 170 000 t of ore was mined from the Smokey Hills openpit operation and more than 136 000 t from the underground operations. More than 20 000 oz of four element platinum group metals was shipped from the operation during this time.

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