South Africa’s second largest platinum miner Impala Platinum on Wednesday announced that the company had agreed to sell off a 15% stake in the Marula Platinum mine for R316-million to Tubatse Platinum and the Marula Community Trust.
In terms of the transaction, both Tubatse Platinum and the Marula Community Trust each acquire a 7,5% equity stake in Marula Platinum effective from July 1 2006, subject to the finalisation of the funding agreement.
Implats will provide a full guarantee for the Marula Community Trust debt and will also guarantee Tubatse Platinum’s debt until December 2014.
The 15% black economic ownership in Marula Platinum would meet the five-year target of the mining charter.
Tubatse Platinum was an empowerment consortium consisting of 20 Limpopo province businesses, with the majority being women-owned, Implats said.
The Marula Community Trust will ensure sustainable benefit flows to the local community over the life of the mine and beyond.
“Marula is a vital part of Implats’ growth strategy. Tubatse Platinum’s investment along with that of the trust will facilitate the development of the mine and will ensure that our commitment to the building of a viable business relationship with previously disadvantaged communities is met,” Implats executive director Les Paton said.
“We appreciate Implats’ initiative in including local community and identifiable business representation in the mining operation. This serves to advance economic independence and self sufficiency of marginalised indigenous communities thus creating opportunities for wealth creation and sharing,” said Danny Msiza, the chairperson of Tubatse Platinum.
Discussions were ongoing with Mmakau Mining, headed by Bridgette Radebe, in connection with the company’s participation in the project, Implats said.
Mmakau Mining was previously allocated a 10% stake in the Marula Platinum mine.
Implats bought the Marula Platinum mine, situated on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex in the Limpopo province, in December 2000, following its
acquisition of Toronto-listed Platexco.
The mine produced 29 800 ounces of platinum in concentrate in the year to
June 2005, with full production of 140 000 oz scheduled for 2009. – I-Net Bridge