Precious metals miner Sibanye-Stillwater has pledged its support for the phased approach to facilitate a managed and orderly return to safe production in the South African mining industry.

According to the Amended Disaster Regulations, announced on April 16, South African mines may now conduct operations at a reduced capacity of 50% of normal production during the lockdown period, and thereafter may increase productive capacity as determined by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe.

The risk-based measures include arranging of transport for South Africa-based employees from their homes to remote areas to their respective areas of work; rigorous screening and testing programmes to be implemented as employees return to work; the provision of quarantine facilities for employees who may test positive for the Covid-19 virus; as well as the submission of data collected during screening and testing to the relevant authority.

Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman says these measures are aligned with Sibanye’s existing Covid-19 mitigation protocols and says plans will be implemented accordingly as underground production at its South African gold and platinum-group metals (PGMs) operations continue to operate with a reduced workforce.

The Mimosa operation, in Zimbabwe, has also resumed operations under precautionary measures agreed with the Zimbabwe government from April 20, he adds.

“The future impact of Covid-19 remains uncertain and forecasting the operating outlook is complicated by uncertainty relating to the extent of the Covid-19 restrictions and the rates at which production may resume at the South African operations beyond the current lockdown period,” Froneman points out.

As such, Sibanye has suspended its previous operating guidance for this year.

Additionally, following the completion of the Lonmin integration into the South African PGM portfolio, Robert van Niekerk will move into a group role heading up the technical services function.

Wayne Robinson has been appointed executive VP of the South African PGM operations.