WORLD number one platinum producer Anglo Platinum (Angloplat) plans to develop a new smelter at Pietersburg in the Northern Province at a cost of R1.306bn. The project will result in some 1 000 new permanent and temporary jobs being created, the company said, adding it will take 22 months to complete. Angloplat on Monday releases its full year earnings and analysts forecast it to lift its headline earnings per share by more than 150% to R31 for the 12 months to December 31, 2000. South African platinum group metal producers have reaped windfalls from surging metal prices triggered by disruptions from Russian suppliers. – Reuters