The Canadian diamond and platinum group metal miner SouthernEra Resources announced yesterday (July 3rd) that it is seeking to double production at one of its major platinum mines.

Productivity at its Messina mine is scheduled for major expansion as part of an ongoing strategy.

The company has long-term intentions to increase the rate of extraction at the mine, which is operated by its South African subsidiary Messina Platinum, to a million ounces of platinum a year.

More than 40,000 metric tonnes of unrefined material were extracted in June.

The company expects to increase this to 80,000 a month by September, and 120,000 by the end of the second half of 2004.

SouthernEra has a 70.4 per cent stake in Messina, and is concentrating considerable investment there on expanding the workings.