Power shortages have halted production at Anglo Platinum, Impala Platinum and Northam Platinum operations in South Africa, it has been confirmed.

A statement from Anglo Platinum indicated that the decision had been made to cut energy consumption after the state-owned utility Eskom informed the company it could not provide a guaranteed supply of power.

Trevor Raymond, Spokesman for Anglo Platinum, said: "We are not mining at all of our operations. We have decided not to produce in order to reduce electricity consumption."

No confirmation has yet been received as to how long the outage will last, but while it is ongoing the miner is expected to cut Anglo Platinum's production by 9,000 refined oz of platinum for each day, Reuters reports.

Meanwhile, Impala Platinum, has predicted that the power loss will result in losses of 3,500 oz of refined platinum daily at its mine near Rustenburg, but has said that operations at the company's Marula mine are unaffected by the shortages.

Northam Platinum has not issued a statement over the projected losses but Spokesperson Marion Brower has stated that it is currently not running its plants and smelters at full capacity.

Source:

S.African power crisis halts gold, platinum mining, 25/01/08
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL25350124.html

Electricity crisis shuts SA gold, platinum mines, 25/01/08
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=125326

South African Mines Halt Production on Power Shortage (Update3), 25/01/08
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aDVaDj0d40WA&refer=home


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