en.Wedoany.com Reported - South African platinum group metals miner Wesizwe Platinum will restart its Bakubung mine in the North West province in phases starting next week, subject to the finalization of a memorandum of understanding currently being discussed with recognized unions and employee representatives.

The mine has been on care and maintenance since June 3 for three weeks to allow for meaningful dialogue with employees and unions during consultations on proposed retrenchments. Wesizwe Platinum stated on June 4 that it planned to cut approximately 497 of its 706 employees.

The company previously announced in March that it had abandoned its original phased expansion plan (including a one-million-ton-per-year strategy) and instead adopted a revised development strategy based on a single-phase expansion to 3.5 million tons per year.

The company said that engagement with employees and unions has been constructive. Meanwhile, the company assured stakeholders that the restart of operations has been carefully planned and will follow a structured, phased approach that prioritizes the safety and health of employees and contractors, complies with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and ensures the safe recommissioning of mining and processing activities.

Employees and contractors will return to the site in a controlled and gradual manner. The initial phase includes medical examinations, induction training, statutory inspections, compliance verification, essential maintenance activities, and the gradual recommissioning of critical infrastructure before normal mining operations resume. Wesizwe Platinum stated that management believes this rigorous approach is essential to ensure a safe, responsible, and sustainable restart of operations, while fully complying with the Mine Health and Safety Act and other applicable legal requirements.

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