Messina, the Johannesburg-listed pgm company controlled by the Canadian firm SouthernEra, has announced that it expects to reach full production at its Voorspoed section by the second quarter of 2004.

Voorspoed is the first phase of Messina's development in the Limpopo province, which Messina expects to yield 120,000 tons of pgm-bearing reef by the muddle of next year.

SouthernEra is increasing its interests in Messina, having recently upped its stake from 70.9 per cent of the company to 71.9 per cent.

In a year from now, SouthernEra has predicted, Messina will play 'the key role' in bringing SouthernEra's pgm production to a million ounces a year.