Impala Platinum confirmed on Tuesday (22nd September) that it has suspended operations at a shaft in its section of the Rustenburg mine after a worker fatality.

The world's second-largest platinum producer halted blasting in the number eight shaft at the South African facility when a miner was killed following a fall of ground.

Impala announced that it will now investigate the incident - which occurred late on Monday evening - in partnership with the Department of Mineral Resources.

"All tramming and blasting operations have been suspended at Eight Shaft," read a statement from the firm.

"No further information can be released by the company until the next of kin has been informed and an investigation completed."

Although the impact of the accident on production is unclear at present, the shaft tends to produce about 47,000 oz per year, according to a new report by Bloomberg.

Bob Gilmour, a spokesman for Impala, told the news provider that the figure accounts for approximately five per cent of the company's total annual pgm output.

Impala has already announced this month that two workers died in a methane explosion at the number 14 shaft in its part of the Rustenburg platinum mine.

Sources:

mplats regrets the death of an employee at Impala Platinum's 8 Shaft (22/09/09)

DJ Implats Halts Blasting At Rustenburg Shaft After Fatality (22/09/09)

Impala Says 8 Shaft Still Closed After Mineworker Death (23/09/09)

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