ASX-listed Jupiter Mines has warned the market that nationwide strike action by some employees of South African State-owned rail and port services provider Transnet may affect the Tshipi Borwa manganese mine operations, in the Northern Cape, with regard to its rail logistics and port operations.
The strike is in response to a wage dispute between Transnet and trade unions the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union and the United National Transport Union.
Jupiter said on October 7 that its current stocks of manganese ore were sufficient to load vessels scheduled for the next ten days in South Africa.
Ship loading was under way, despite rail operations having been interrupted.
Tshipi management has procured private labour resources to enable continued shiploading if required, the company said. To the extent that rail operations were impacted by the strike, Tshipi has the alternative option of road trucking material to port as required.
“Management will assess the disruptions in the coming days to determine the need and viability of substituting any lost rail volumes with road trucks,” Jupiter said.
The company noted that the last Transnet strike of this type took place in 2010. The strike at that time lasted two weeks, during which time no Transnet-operated rail or port operations took place.