adminLovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
SHURUGWI-based platinum mine, Unki Mines, has moved the date for the completion of its housing project from December this year to June next year.
Unki Mines, a subsidiary of Anglo Platinum embarked on a massive housing project where it intends to construct close to 1,000 housing units for its workforce at Impali Source Farm in Shurugwi.
Anglo-Platinum chief financial officer, Colin Chibafa confirmed the developments and cited delays by contractors as the major setback in meeting the initial deadline.
“We are hoping to complete the housing project next year around June. There is quite a lot of work to be done which we are trying to speed up.
“There have been delays which mainly have had to do with our contractors who have not met some of the targets so at the moment our focus is to complete the housing project,” he said.
Delays in completing the housing project have been caused by, among other things, industrial action by workers of contractors at the housing project over unpaid salaries.
Turning to mine operations, Chibafa said Anglo Platinum was looking at expanding operations at low cost mines and Unki fit the profile.
Said Chibafa: “The expansion of Unki Mines is part of the group strategy. Anglo Platinum is looking at expanding operations at low cost mines and Unki Mines fits that profile but at the moment our priority is completing the housing project.”
Unki Platinum Mine is expected to maintain its production level of 63,200 ounces of platinum annually. The mine has continued to increase its production of equivalent refined platinum ounces year-on-year.
Equivalent refined platinum production for Unki Mines increased by two percent year-on-year to 63,200 ounces in 2013.
Anglo Platinum shelved the expansion of Unki Mines following the plummeting of platinum prices on the world market from an average of $1,600 per ounce to $1,300 per ounce.
derick.khumalo