A strike currently confined to Anglo Platinum’s base metals refinery near Johannesburg could extend to the company’s precious metals refinery west of Pretoria.
At the base metals plant, 300 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa have been striking over changes made to their medical aid benefits. The changes reportedly limit workers’ choices when selecting doctors.
NUM says some of its members at the precious metals refinery (the biggest in the world) had agreed to join the strike, though this action is being delayed pending a court decision on the legality of the labour action. The ruling was expected shortly after presstime.
South Africa produces 75% of the world’s platinum. Of this, Impala accounts for just over 1 million oz., making it the world’s second-largest producer of that metal.
Over the past decade, Impala has boosted production while reducing production costs.
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