[miningmx.com] – THE Zimbabwean government had on Tuesday
approved Anglo American Platinum’s indigenisation plan for its Unki Platinum Mine, a
Zimbabwe state source told Miningmx.
“Anglo Platinum’s Unki presentation was good and compliant,’ the source said. “It’s
51% vendor financed and not argumentative.’
An Anglo American Platinum spokesperson said last night that although the company
had submitted its plan for the indigenisation of Unki Platinum Mines, no official
response had been received. A meeting with the Zimbabwean government had,
however, been scheduled.
Zimbabwe’s state-controlled Herald newspaper, citing the country’s
indigenisation minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, said on March 30 that Anglo American
Platinum was ready to submit plans on how it would cede control of the Unki mine.
There has been an acceleration in the implementation of indigenisation this year, with
Impala Platinum reaching an in-principle agreement to sell 51% of its shares in
Zimplats to the state, employees of Zimplats and the local mining community.
Kasukuwere told Miningmx that a similar plan had been reached for Mimosa
Platinum Mines, which Aquarius Platinum and Impala share on a 50:50 basis.
However, this has not been confirmed by the shareholders at this stage.
Said the source of the Unki indigenisation plan: “It will help in terms of confidence
building between Unki and the state. The positive attitude was appreciated and will
be very helpful going forward.’
Unki produced 51,600 ounces in its last financial year on ore production of just over
100,000 tonnes per month. The mine is planned for full capacity of 120,000
tonnes/month production expected to be reached in 2013.
