Top South African miner suspends key operations after four deaths

Impala Platinum has suspended mining operations at its Rustenburg complex in South Africa for four days in response to an increase in safety incidents.

The Johannesburg-listed producer of platinum-group metals said on Monday it has stopped mining from July 24-28 to “conduct a comprehensive safety reset.”

About 51,500 people are employed at Rustenburg, which accounts for almost half of Implats’ total output.

The country’s mines are among the world’s deepest and most expensive to run, and South African firms, including Implats and Sibanye-Stillwater, produce most of the world’s platinum.

The biggest single consumer of PGMs is devices that reduce harmful emissions from diesel and gasoline vehicles.

Implats reported four fatal injuries in the 12 months to the end of June and has recorded two additional fatalities this month, according to a company spokesperson. 

The measures it’s undertaking include workplace inspections, targeted training and a mass employee engagement session, Implats said in a statement.

The company will also appoint independent specialists to conduct an objective assessment of existing safety systems and recommend improvements.

An “increase in serious safety-related incidents” at Rustenburg this year prompted the decision to proactively suspend operations and undertake the focused safety reset,” the company said.

The pause will have an impact on production of about eight days during the reporting period, which ends on June 30, 2027, but total lost output will be assessed after work has resumed, according to Implats.