Platinum group metal (pgm) miner Lonmin has seen production fall by 17,000 t/d following unprotected industrial action at its Karee operations.

The company had lost around 68,000 t of pgm production as a result of the strikes, which began last week, according to Mining Weekly.

Lonmin investor relations head Tanya Chicanza told the publication that the wider impact of the industrial action on production could not properly assessed yet.

"This is one of the company's biggest operations, and Lonmin will be working on a strategy to assess, identify and counter the effects of the industrial action," she said.

Now, the company is in the process of dismissing the 9,000 mine workers who were engaged in the unprotected action.

Lonmin was granted an interdict on Friday (May 20th) that compelled strikers to return to work or face disciplinary action.

The strike action had nothing to do with the company, and was the result of a National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) branch leadership dispute.

NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said the union would help some workers to reapply for their jobs.

Sources:

Lonmin dismisses striking workers, 17 000 t/d of production lost (24/05/11)

Lonmin to dismiss 9000 (24/05/11)

Lonmin says output disrupted at South Africa mine (20/05/11)

© Adfero Ltd