It has been claimed that the mining strike affecting operations at Northam Platinum could be brought to an end on Friday.

The company has revealed it is losing 1,100 ounces of platinum group metal (pgm) output per day, but the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has told Mining Weekly that the strike, which began on April 29th, could be over soon.

By the end of business on Thursday, Northam Platinum spokesperson Marion Brower said the company had lost a total of 3,300 ounces of production since the strike started.

The walkout - which Northam Platinum claims is unprotected and therefore will not pay the workers while the action continues - was prompted by workers unhappy at the actions taken by the mining company in response to previous demands.

A spokesman for the NUM confirmed to Mining Weekly that it had not called the strike. The lost production has so far cost Northam Platinum in the region of R24 million.

Sources:

Unprotected strike action at Northam Platinum mine, 3/05/07
http://www.northam.co.za/ir/media/2007/media_03may07.asp

Northam strike to cost R24m plus, 3/05/07
http://business.iafrica.com/news/827647.htm

Northam workers strike, 3/05/07
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=108341

Ÿ Adfero Ltd