Impala Platinum confirmed yesterday (14th September) that a worker has died at its Rustenburg mine in South Africa after a methane gas explosion.

The world's second-largest platinum producer has suspended operations at the number 14 shaft in its part of the facility after the employee succumbed to his injuries.

Impala announced that it will now investigate the cause of the incident - which occurred last Wednesday and also injured two other workers - in partnership with the government.

"At this stage the cause of the explosion has not been determined ... all operations have been suspended at 14 shaft and Implats management and the Department of Minerals and Resources are currently investigating the incident," read a statement.

The company has now suffered 15 mine deaths in 2009, which gives it the worst safety record across the platinum mining industry, according to Business Report.

Although four-fifths of that total have occurred at the number 14 shaft, Jon Andrews, Head of Safety at Impala, was keen to play down the significance of the proportion.

"All the accidents at the number 14 shaft have had different causes," he told the news provider.

The shaft was closed earlier this year after a ground fall incident claimed the lives of nine workers, costing the company about 150,000 oz in production over the next five years.

Sources:

Implats confirms methane explosion death (14/09/09)

Web Exclusive: Implats fatalities reach 15; worst in sector (14/09/09)

REFILE-Implats shuts SAfrica mine shaft after explosion (14/09/09)

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