Impala Platinum (Implats) is drawing up a contingency plan to import provisions into Zimbabwe to prevent food shortages from interfering with its mining operations, it has been reported.

Details of the mining company's emergency plans emerged in an interview with Chief Executive Officer David Brown in Moneyweb.

Mr Brown said: "We are looking at ways in which we can ensure that our workforce manages to, shall we say, maintain a reasonable standing in terms of food and supplies of other basic household needs."

The Implats chief also revealed that although it has thus far managed to minimise the impact that the political turmoil has had on its operations, this may not be the case should electricity supply become affected.

"One of the issues that is beginning to rear its head in terms of the interface with the local economy is around electricity supply, what is happening now will begin to have a marked impact on the security of supply."

It is both the company's ability to import supplies as well as a binding investment agreement with Mr Mugabe signed in 2001 that have enabled Implats to continue its operations without undue disruption, Mr Brown added.

Source:

Implats’ cocoon cracking, 09/07/07
http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page1329?oid=145735&sn=Detail

Zimplats worried over electricity supply, 06/07/07
http://www.platinum.matthey.com/media_room/1183730413.html

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