Platinum

There are concerns the Department of Mineral Resources is about to impose strict new standards on mechanised platinum mines but this is denied by chief inspector of mines Thabo Gazi.

Northam Platinum is looking at a JV with Jubilee Platinum which would utilise Jubilee's revolutionary ConRoast smelting technology to treat platinum concentrates from Northam's Booysendal mine.

Northam Platinum and Jubilee Platinum have agreed to explore development of a 'ConRoast' facility in the first step to developing another source of furnace capacity in South Africa's platinum industry.

Anglo Platinum, the world's largest platinum producer, says it expects to report increased first half earnings on the back of higher metal prices.

Cyril Ramaphosa was appointed to Lonmin's board after a deal, in which Ramaphosa's Shanduka Resources bought a stake in Incwala Resources, was consummated.

Aquarius Platinum said its 4 shaft at the Marikana mine near Rustenburg could be suspended for two weeks cutting output by up to 2,000 ounces.

Aquarius Platinum has suspended production at its Marikana mine following the death of five miners contracted through Murray & Roberts.

A union at Impala Platinum says it will stick to its 15% pay rise demand in mediation talks next week but wants a quick end to the dispute.

Anglo Platinum has still not converted any of its old order mining rights into new order mining rights more than two years after Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll reckoned the situation was sorted.

Shares in Aquarius Platinum are down more than 7% after the company said a safety review at its Blue Ridge Mine in Mpumalanga would have a negative impact on production in the short term.