Impala Platinum has been hit by further unrest at its South African operations after more than 100 miners conducted a sit-in protest today (19th October) at the Twin Rivers mine.

The National Union of Mineworkers confirmed that the employees refused to depart after their night shift as they demanded the dismissal of one of the managers at the site.

As a result, an additional 500 workers were unable to report for their morning duties at the facility, which Impala owns jointly with partner African Rainbow Minerals.

According to reports, those involved in the protests are determined to see the removal of the manager after he sacked four of their colleagues, allegedly without justification.

The news is another blow to the world's second-largest platinum producer after recent industrial action at its section of the Rustenburg mine and its Marula operation.

Early estimates indicate that the strikes will cost the company up to 100,000 oz in pgm output for the financial year to the end of June 2010.

Impala Platinum currently supplies about a quarter of the world's platinum and produced 1.7 million ounces of the precious metal in the 2009 financial year.

Source:

Workers hold sit-in at S.Africa platinum mine-union (19/10/09)

© Adfero Ltd