NUM threatens to intensify strike as Modikwa withdraws offer

Modikwa platinum mine, a joint venture between African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), has withdrawn from negotiations with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). The mine said on Wednesday that the protracted...

Fatality at Two Rivers platinum mine

African Rainbow Minerals has reported a fatality at the Two Rivers platinum mine, a joint venture with Impala Platinum. Operations were halted at the mine on Saturday to allow for the re-evaluation of safety procedures after an employee was...

Empowered Royal Bafokeng platinum heads for JSE

New black-controlled platinum-mining company Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) on Monday announced its intention to list on the JSE in the last quarter of 2010. A Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH) subsidiary, RBPlat holds 67% of the operating Bafokeng...

Platinum seen in balance in 2010, price may rise to $2 000/oz – report

Platinum refiner and specialist Johnson Matthey said in its latest ‘Platinum 2010' report, released on Monday, that the platinum market would be close to balanced in 2010, as rising demand outpaced a steadier growth in mine output. However,...

Implats appoints group executive for growth projects

South African platinum-miner Implats has appointed Gerhard Potgieter as group executive for growth projects and consulting mining engineer. Potgieter, who will report directly to CEO David Brown, will be responsible for leading the world's...

Phiri to head growth-poised JSE-bound platinum NewCo

Ferrochrome company head Steve Phiri is stepping down as CEO of Merafe to take over the reins of a new growth-poised JSE-bound platinum company that is expected to be listed in the second half of 2010. Long-standing Merafe CFO Stuart Elliot will...

Northam Platinum likely to go to market for R3bn Booysendal – CEO

JSE-listed platinum miner Northam was likely to go to the market to finance the proposed R3-billion 1 200-employee Booysendal platinum mine in Mpumalanga province, its CEO Glyn Lewis said on Tuesday. Lewis said in reply to mining analyst Nic...

Implats reports marginal output increase, profit drops

South African miner Impala Platinum (Implats) increased its refined platinum output by 2% to 895 000 oz for the six months ended December 31, 2009. The marginal increase in output was achieved despite “one of the most difficult [periods] in the...

Two Rivers two-day underground sit-in ends after interdict

The two-day "unprotected illegal" underground sit-in strike at Two Rivers platinum mine in Mpumalanga province – which was initially said to be a hostage drama – has ended, JSE-listed African Rainbow Minerals (Arm) said on Friday. A separate...

Two Rivers plant improvement on track

The plant improvement at Two Rivers platinum mine, in Mpumalanga province, is on schedule for completion in the first quarter of 2010.

Daily podcast – January 21, 2010

Vale Inco restarts partial production at its Copper Cliff nickel smelter in Sudbury, Ontario; and workers at Two Rivers platinum mine refuse to come up from underground over pay grievances.

Illegal sit-in halts production at SA platinum mine

An illegal sit-in by more than 240 employees at the Two Rivers platinum mine, in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province continued on Monday afternoon. More than one hundred mineworkers had embarked on the protest action on Sunday evening, halting...