JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com)– Despite ongoing unprotected strike action at the Helena, Magareng and Thorncliffe mines in Limpopo, JSE-listed Merafe has confirmed that, for now, the joint venture (JV) had sufficient stockpiles of chrome to service client and smelter demands.
“There is adequate chrome ore stock in the venture to ensure that both smelter and customer demands are met,” the company said in a statement on Friday morning.
Merafe owns the Helena, Magareng and Thorncliffe mines in a JV with Glencore Xstrata.
Xstrata spokesperson Christopher Tsatsawane told Mining Weekly Online that the mine was currently engaged in talks with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), and was hopeful for a resolution by Friday afternoon.
Some 800 workers – most of whom were AMCU members – downed tools at the mines on Tuesday amid allegations of assault of a worker by a shift supervisor.
The company had already dismissed 200 workers from its Helena mine, after three ultimatums to return to work or be dismissed, were ignored.