Reuters reports that according to a lawyer acting for nearly half a million miners who contracted fatal lung diseases silicosis and tuberculosis in gold mines, an out-of-court settlement was expected to be signed on Thursday with those producers implicated in the issue.  

"Barring unforeseen circumstances, we expect to sign the silicosis agreement with the gold industry tomorrow (Thursday)," Richard Spoor said on Wednesday.  The suit was launched around six years ago on behalf of miners suffering from silicosis, contracted by inhaling silica dust in gold mines.  The settlement, which would also cover those who contracted from tuberculosis, would still need approval by the High Court before being implemented.  The six companies involved are Harmony Gold, Gold Fields, African Rainbow Minerals, Sibanye-Stillwater, AngloGold Ashanti and Anglo American.  Anglo American no longer has gold assets, but historically was a bullion producer.  They have apparently set aside R5bn in provisions for the settlement.

• Read this report at Mining Weekly

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