The chief executive of Impala Platinum (Implants) the world’s second largest platinum producer, said on Thursday that a drive by the Zimbabwean government to force foreign miners to transfer 51% of their local equity stakes to black investors in the country could not work and was hurting the country.
“We believe that 51% equity just does not work,” David Brown said on a conference call with journalists after the group unveiled full year results that showed headline earnings per share had soared over 40% on higher prices.
“What they are doing is very bad for the country . . . and has the potential to retard investment,” he said in comments that were unusually blunt for a company official on the issue.
He also said the company wanted to see the law changed. Implats has a huge stake in the outcome of the situation as its Zimbabwe unit Zimplats accounts for close to 10% of group production.
Brown also said the group’s platinum output for the 2012 financial year would likely decline to 1,7 million ounces from just over 1,83-million in the past year as old infrastructure becomes less productive.
But as new shafts ramp up the company is aiming for 2 million ounces by 2014.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive