JOHANNESBURG, Dec 12 – Northam Platinum, one of South Africa’s smaller platinum producers, said on Monday its only producing mine has been hit by several stoppages due to government safety inspections, part of a wider campaign that has hit the sector.
Analysts have speculated that a sharp fall in overall platinum production in South Africa in October was the result of increased stoppages related to surprise inspections as part of a government drive to boost safety.
Mines minister Susan Shabangu said in November her Department of Mineral Resources would be increasing health and safety audits of mines in the face of a “culture of non-compliance“.
Platinum group metals production in South Africa, the world’s largest supplier of the precious metals, fell by over 36 percent in October from September, a slide attributed to an increase in safety inspections and stoppages.
Source: Reuters Africa newsletter
Did you find this information helpful? If you did, consider donating.