JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South African platinum-miner Northam had to shut down the converters at the Zondereinde metallurgical plant, following damage to the precipitator, it reported on Monday.

The JSE-listed company said that it would take around six weeks to complete repairs to the unit, during which time it would stockpile the material.

"The interruption will have a negative effect on sales for the current financial year," said Northam, led by CEO Glyn Lewis.

The company said it had started investigations into the cause of the incident. No-one was injured during the incident.

The purpose of the electrostatic precipitator is to remove particulate matter from the off-gas emissions prior to being discharged into the atmosphere through the chimney stack.

The Zondereinde platinum mine is near Thabazimbi.

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