Implats Still Working to Close or Sell Aging Rustenburg Mine

(Bloomberg) -- Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. said it’s still working toward shutting or selling one of the aging South African shafts flagged for closure as part of a restructuring plan at its Rustenburg complex.

Key Insights

• The world’s second-largest platinum miner is in talks with various stakeholders, mostly about about its Impala No. 1 shaft, and expects the engagements will be concluded in the next four to six months. The mine, one of Implats’s oldest, is nearing the end of its life and employees about 3,000 people.
• The company had a challenging quarter after production was affected by interruptions in the power supply from state-owned utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., but Implats said it still expects to meet its annual output target. The miner is benefiting from strong palladium and platinum prices and has remained profitable in the financial year to date, said Chief Executive Officer Nico Muller.
• Implats may be among producers heading for a showdown with unions as the industry negotiates new wage agreements this year. The company said last year it plans to cut more than 13,000 jobs as part of the restructuring of lossmaking mines.

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• Highlights from the quarter
• Statement

To contact the reporter on this story: Felix Njini in Johannesburg at fnjini@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Lynn Thomasson at lthomasson@bloomberg.net, Liezel Hill, Dylan Griffiths

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