SA mines hardest hit by blackouts

By Tina George
25 January 2008


The mining industry in South Africa considers today to be a dark Friday as the country’s largest gold and platinum producers came to a standstill.

This comes after three of the largest gold producers, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields and Harmony along with Anglo Platinum have had to suspend underground operations due to a major powercut.

“It is indeed a state of emergency as production losses run into millions of rands,” says Deputy General Secretary of Solidarity, Dirk Hermann.

Eskom instructed mines to effect a daily electricity saving of 10% to 15% with a monthly saving of 60%.

Hermann added that it is not known when the mines will be able to proceed under operation as it seems as the problem might take up to a month.

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