Growth for platinum mining companies helped to create an extra 20,000 jobs in the South African mining sector during the first half of 2007, the South African Minister of Minerals and Energy has revealed.

Addressing the Chamber of Mines and reporters on Tuesday, Buyelwa Sonjica said that the strong employment growth in the sector during the first half brought the total number of mining jobs in South Africa to 493,000, compared with the average of 458,000 during 2006.

The burgeoning status of the platinum firms means that 90,000 new jobs have been added in the sector during the period from 2001 to June 2007.

Ms Sonjica attributed the growth to rising prices for commodities worldwide and an influx of investment in South Africa this year after two years of decline and predicted that further growth will be seen in months to come.

She did, however, caution that the potential for a boom might be mitigated by looming power shortages and skyrocketing costs.

Source:

SA mines added 20 000 new jobs by end June, 05/10/07
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=120638

Mine employment grew by 14 000, 05/10/07
http://business.iafrica.com/news/669611.htm

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