The South African Government is ready to make an announcement regarding power supply to the mining industry.

The announcement is due on Friday following warnings of job cuts at some of the country's mining operations.

Talks with the Department of Minerals and Energy were staged last week along with Eskom and figures from the mining industry in an attempt to create a plan of action to deal with the crisis.

Frans Barker from the Chamber of Mines told miningmx.com: "What we've indicated to the Government is that some mines are badly affected and that jobs are at risk at those mines.

"We've dealt with it on a case-by-case basis and we hope that they will be able to do something for those mines to save jobs," he added.

"We looked at the mines where there is the biggest socio- economic cost in terms of job losses," Mr Barker told Bloomberg.

"The department and Eskom have to assess what they can give to us and keep the system stable," he added.

It is not yet known whether power will be fully restored to mines after Eskom expects shortages to hold until 2012.

Source:

SA govt to act on power-related mine job cuts, 05/03/08
http://www.miningmx.com/mining_fin/182105.htm

South Africa to Say Whether Power Curbs Will Be Eased, 04/03/08
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aVyCdzRDm3I4&refer=africa

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