Sibanye Says Gold Output to Suffer for Months After Strike

(Bloomberg) -- Sibanye Gold Ltd., South Africa’s largest gold producer, said gold production may only return to normal in the third quarter of this year after workers ended a five-month strike.

While the mines are starting to resume production, Sibanye said it can’t predict how much gold the company will produce this year. Output plunged 63 percent in the first quarter as thousands of workers went on strike for five months over wages, according to a statement from the company.

Key Insights

• While workers have started returning to work, the mines were “dormant” since Nov. 21, so resuming full production will take a while.
• The setbacks could slow Sibanye’s progress in reducing debt. The company said its ratio of net debt to adjusted Ebitda will likely fall to 1.8 by year-end, down from 3 at the end of the first quarter.
• Sibanye is profiting from the rally in platinum and palladium, saying it received higher prices for the basket of metals it produces.

Market Reaction

• The shares were little changed at 13.17 rand.

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, Dylan Griffiths

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