Power restrictions imposed on Impala Platinum could cost the firm a total of 40,000 oz in total.

David Brown, Chief Executive Officer, predicted that closures has already cost the company about 10,000 oz in production with a further 10,000 oz expected to be shed if supply stays at 90 per cent.

Eskom has restricted industrial energy supply to 90 per cent of the power usually used in operations and Impala Platinum has allowed its mines to operate at 100 per cent but reduced its smelter to incorporate the ten per cent restriction, according to Business Report.

A weakened smelter means a reduction in throughput, according to Brown who also expects third-party users to supply lower ounces.

"While the third-party impact is difficult to estimate, I would say we could anticipate 30,000 to 40,000 oz to come out of our total production," he predicted.

The South African Government has called on Eskom and the mining industry to work together to find solutions to the energy crisis and at the moment it seems certain that power supply will stay at 90 per cent after Eskom Finance Director Bongani Nqwababa said he would not increase supply.

Sources:

Implats to shed 40,000oz on power diet, 14/02/08
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4254394

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