Latest news with #Implats
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Implats' Emma Townshend to Speak at African Mining Week (AMW) Amidst Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) Market Sustainability Drive
Emma Townshend, Executive: Corporate Affairs at South African mining company Implats, has confirmed her participation as a speaker at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2025, Africa's premier event for mining stakeholders. Townshend will contribute to a high-level panel discussion titled South Africa's Strategic Influence in the Global Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) Market, showcasing Implats' role in maintaining South Africa's dominance in PGMs. African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@ Townshend's AMW participation comes at a time when Implats is strengthening its operations to support long-term growth. In July 2025, the company announced the consolidation of its Impala Platinum and Impala Bafokeng Resources ( operations in South Africa. This strategic realignment is aimed at mitigating the effects of PGM price volatility, improving operational efficiency and securing sustainable revenue for both Implats and the broader South African economy, which accounts for approximately 80% of global PGM output. The company also has an ongoing capital investment program ( designed to increase production capacity, extend life-of-mines and enhance local beneficiation. Key projects include a R460 million initiative at Impala Bafokeng to counter declining production. The firm is undertaking over $387 million in upgrades to tailings and smelting infrastructure at Zimplats in Zimbabwe. The development of the Mupani Mine in Zimbabwe is expected to increase the company's annual platinum ore output by 2.2 million tons in 2026 and 3.6 million tons by 2029. Additionally, a R500 million expansion at the Springs Base-Metal Refinery in South Africa aims to strengthen the company's processing capabilities and operational resilience. At AMW, sustainability will also be a major focus of Townshend's remarks. Implats has set an ambitious target to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. As part of this effort, the company signed a five-year power purchase agreement (PPA) ( with Discovery Green in January 2025 for the provision of 130,000 MWh of renewable electricity annually to its Springs refinery. The agreement is expected to meet 90% of the refinery's power needs from 2026, cutting approximately 170,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The company is also expanding its renewable footprint with an additional 45 MW solar power plant at Zimplats, complementing the 35 MW facility commissioned at its Selous metallurgical complex in 2024. In addition to showcasing operational and environmental initiatives, AMW represents an ideal platform for Townsend to spotlight Implats' leadership in promoting gender inclusivity in the mining sector. The company has already achieved its 2026 goal of 29% female representation in management and continues to integrate gender equality into its broader growth strategy. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
News24
09-07-2025
- Business
- News24
South African-owned palladium mine in Canada to close, 750 jobs at risk
• For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page. Low palladium prices are forcing Impala Platinum to shut down its mine in Canada, putting 750 jobs at risk. The Lac des Iles mine is about 1 500 kilometers northwest of Toronto. Impala Canada expects to end production by May 31, 2026, Chief Executive Officer Timothy Hill told workers in an email seen by Bloomberg News, but 'the final date of operations is dependent on several factors, including available tailings capacity and our ability to meet production targets.' 'We've been in a prolonged period of low prices, and as a result, the business is not generating the cash flow required to sustain the operation despite the team's strong performance,' an Impala Canada spokesperson said Tuesday in an email. The price of palladium — a metal mostly used to curb emissions from petrol vehicles — has fallen over the past three years because demand from auto manufacturers has weakened. Electric vehicles have captured a larger share of the global auto market, and they don't need catalytic converters to filter exhaust fumes. In 2024, Impala Canada cut 95 jobs, also citing lower palladium prices. Parent company Implats, based in Johannesburg, acquired the Ontario mine in 2019 through its purchase of North American Palladium. The mine closure was first reported by online publication TBnewswatch.
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Impala Platinum consolidates operations to secure long-term profitability
Rock face operations at an Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg. Impala Platinum Holdings is consolidating two subsidiaries, Impala Bafokeng Resources and Impala Platinum Image: File Photo Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats) is merging the operations of two subsidiaries, Impala Bafokeng Resources (IBR) and Impala Platinum, due to the low prevailing rand platinum group metal (PGM) pricing. In a statement on Tuesday, Implats said the move was also necessary to secure the long-term sustainability of both Impala and IBR. Meanwhile, market analysts believe PGM prices should improve in the second half of this year. 'This consolidation will align the legal structure with current reporting lines in place and facilitate and progress the realisation of synergies between the two operations,' Implats directors said. It was expected that, over time, the consolidation will improve profitability and ensure the sustainability of the combined operations, 'which shall be ongoing and continuous,' they said. There was no cash consideration attributable to the consolidation, nor would Implats shareholders, or shareholders of Impala or IBR change due to the consolidation. The change also did not involve any related parties to the Implats group, the statement said. In terms of the actual transaction, Impala and IBR entered into an agreement for IBR to transfer its entire business comprising the exploration, development, and mining of PGMs and activities, including all its assets and liabilities, to Impala as a going concern, after IBR and other Implats companies had implemented certain re-organisational steps relating to the businesses prior to the consolidation. An online search shows IBR operates two active mines — Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine (BRPM) and Styldrift Mine — and two concentrators that process ore. It has a site under care and maintenance, the Maseve Mine, which was acquired in 2018. Impala Platinum's existing operations include Impala Rustenburg, Marula Platinum, Zimplats, and Impala Canada. Implats' share price gained 1.2% to R160.84 Tuesday afternoon, adding to the gains of more than 85% in the mining group's share price over a year. Meanwhile, Mining Weekly reported on Monday that refinery services provider Heraeus had found in its latest precious metals appraisal that the platinum price, which averages $1,341/oz, will likely correct over the second half of the year, based on rising demand from China, and the South African PGM basket was currently more than 30% higher than at the start of the year, in dollar terms. 'For high-cost producers, this will ease pressure on profit margins which have been eroded over the past 18 months as PGM prices have fallen and production costs have risen.' Platinum prices had risen to an 11-year high last week, the specialist mining publication reported. Visit:
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Impala Platinum and Impala Bafokeng Resources to consolidate operations
Impala Platinum Limited (Impala) and Impala Bafokeng Resources Proprietary Limited (IBR), two key subsidiaries of Implats, have agreed to consolidate their operations. Impala Platinum Limited (Impala) and Impala Bafokeng Resources Proprietary Limited (IBR), two key subsidiaries of Implats in response to low prevailing rand platinum group metal pricing have agreed to consolidate their operations. "This consolidation will align the legal structure with current reporting lines in place, and facilitate and progress the realisation of synergies between the two operations," Implats said in a statement. It is expected that, over time, the consolidation will improve profitability and ensure the sustainability of the combined operations, which shall be ongoing and continuous. Implats said there is no cash consideration attributable to the consolidation, nor will the shareholders of Implats, Impala or IBR change due to the consolidation. The consolidation also does not involve any related parties to the Implats group. The consolidation will see Impala and IBR enter into an agreement in terms of which IBR will transfer its entire business (comprising the exploration, development and mining of PGMs and activities related thereto) including all its assets and liabilities to Impala as a going concern. The transaction will be executed in accordance with the tax rollover provisions as provided for in the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Agreement), after IBR and other companies of the Implats group have implemented certain reorganisational steps relating to the businesses prior to the consolidation. The effective date of the consolidation agreement is set for July 1, 2025, marking the beginning of a new phase for both companies.
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Impala Platinum and Amcu negotiate to prevent Rustenburg strike
Impala Platinum (Implats) has suspended a strike action by employees under the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) ongoing on issues related to an employee share ownership trust as the parties remain locked in negotiations. The strike action, initially slated for June 6, 2025, would have affected the company's Rustenburg operations. In a notice to strike served on Implats, Amcu informed Implats 'of the protected strike action' that will take place across all the Impala Platinum Limited Operations. 'The strike will commence on Friday, 06 June 2025, starting with the afternoon shift as well as all other shifts thereafter. All AMCU members working at Impala Rustenburg across all your Impala Rustenburg Operations will participate in this protected strike action. The last shift will report on duty on Friday, 06 June 2025 (morning shift),' Amcu had said in the notice to strike. However, in an internal note, Implats Rustenburg CEO, Moses Motlhageng, had noted that the 'strike is unprotected as it is prohibited by the wage agreement' while the company had also mulled an application to the Labour Court for a declaration interdicting employees from participating in the strike. Implats then scrapped an agreement with Amcu for the suspension of the strike. In emailed responses to Business Report, Johan Theron, spokesperson for Implats, said the company has 'been and remain in ongoing engagement with Amcu in order to secure a mutually beneficial' outcome to the dispute". He said that the company was confident that a strike action would be averted and the inevitable harm and further complications brought about such a labourforce action would be avoided. On Thursday, in an afternoon notice to members, Molete Thoane, Amcu's regional secretary said 'the strike has been suspended pending negotiations' between the two parties. At the center of the disagreement is the 'mutual dispute on the Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT) as per the CCMA Certificate' under case number NWRB 385-25. Amcu had undertaken availability for negotiation during the 48 hour strike notice period. This enabled Implats and Amcu to agree on suspension of the strike action. Implats has established an employee share ownership trust that is geared to benefit about 32 000 employees under Impala Platinum Limited. Implats chief financial officer Brenda Berlin was quoted by Mining Weekly early this year saying the trust had already subscribed for about 4% of the company's share capital. 'This transaction provides a meaningful way of aligning lower-category employees' interests with the future profitability of Impala and is viewed by the Implats board as a positive intervention to keep employees motivated and sustain good labour relations.' BUSINESS REPORT
