Amplats axing over 400 jobs in South Africa

Last year Amplats and its two largest competitors in South Africa, which has the largest known reserves of the metal, were hit by a strike that reduced output for five months but did little to offset a drop in prices — platinum has declined 25% since the strike ended a year ago.

Rustenberg Base metals refiners, South Africa. (Image courtesy of Anglo American Platinum)

The proposed restructure will consolidate the Tumela and Dishaba mines as well as the Amandelbult concentrator, while the Mogalakwena mine and concentrator will also be combined and redesigned, Amplats said. Regional functional centres at Rustenburg, Amandelbult and Polowkane will be closed, with their functions incorporated into the adjacent operations and corporate office.