Aquarius Platinum has confirmed it expects to lose 500 oz of platinum group metals (pgms) per day as a result of the strike at its Marikana operation.

The firm's attributable lost production as a consequence of the industrial action currently stands at 250 oz of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, Hemscott reports.

Workers affiliated to sub-contractor Murray & Roberts Cementation downed tools at the factory following a dispute over bonus payments, with all 1,300 miners at the Marikana's underground section having since been released by the company.

Operations at the opencast section of the Marikana mine and at the company's interest at Kroondal were unaffected by the strike.

News of the impact of the latest spate of unrest at the Marikina mine comes as Anglo Platinum said that the national safety strike held earlier this month had resulted in a loss of around 9,000 oz of refined platinum.

Source:

Aquarius Platinum sees losses of 500 PGM oz/day from strike action at Marikana, 19/12/07
http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-news/item.do?newsId=56416543382956

Safety strike hits SA's mine output, 04/12/07
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=122830

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