Implats operations in care and maintenance for lockdown

“Essential care and maintenance services are continuing to ensure the integrity of key infrastructure and facilitate a safe start-up once operations are cleared to resume,” Implats said in a statement.

Limited operations

“In line with South African government regulations, the group has applied for permission to conduct limited smelting operations at Impala Rustenburg together with limited operations at its Springs refinery. This would allow some in-process inventory to be treated during the lockdown period under controlled conditions.

“The group will also apply for permission to conduct limited underground ore transport and milling at its South African mining operations under agreed precautionary measures. This would greatly assist in securing underground infrastructure during the lockdown period and significantly enhance our ability to safely resume operations after the lockdown period,’” it said.

Force majeure

Implats said it has issued force majeure letters to all consultants and contractors for the duration of the lockdown, to legally suspend our obligations under these contracts.

“Force majeure letters have also been issued in respect of offtake agreements with both group companies and third parties, as well as customer supply contracts, to legally suspend our obligations under these contracts.

“With respect to offtake agreements, deliveries from all parties to the smelter were suspended on 24 March 2020 to enable the smelting operations to prepare for an orderly shutdown. With respect to customer supply contracts, deliveries can resume once the force majeure is lifted, provided delivery logistics permit,” Implats said.