[miningmx.com] – CHRIS Griffith, CEO of Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) has said normality had been restored to the firm’s relationship with mines minister, Susan Shabangu.
“We have had very constructive conversations. I think our relationship is sort of back where it should be, this is going to be a difficult process”, Griffith told Talk Radio 702.
His comments follow an announcement on Monday (January 28) which stated that Amplats, the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and unions had agreed to further talks and a postponement of Amplats’ restructuring, a development that would affect up to 14,000 jobs predominantly at the firm’s Rustenburg mines.
Amplats triggered a political storm when it announced on January 15 it intended to cut 400,000 ounces of platinum-producing capacity as they were loss-making.
First Shabangu accused Amplats of arrogance and threatened to launch an investigation of Anglo American’s mining licence compliance; then ANC secretary-general waded into the discussion saying Anglo American had stolen money from South Africa.
Anglo American, which moved its primary listing to London in 1999, owns about 78% of Amplats.
