Mining Weekly reports that the alloys division of Glencore Operations SA and Merafe have commenced a consultation process in terms of sections 189 and 189A of the Labour Relations Act (LRA) with employee representatives and recognised trade unions.  

Merafe stated on Friday that the operations impacted by the process were Lydenburg Smelter, Wonderkop Smelter, Boshoek Smelter and Lion Smelter.  The process would also impact the Eastern and Western Chrome Mines.  The current consultation process at the Rustenburg Smelter, advised on 20 January, would continue.  Merafe advised that the process had been embarked upon as a result of the worsening operating environment across the SA ferrochrome industry, including unsustainable electricity pricing.  It said that despite significant investments in an attempt to make the operations more competitive, the parties had continued to come under substantial operational and financial pressures.  Merafe added that the parties viewed their engagement with the employee representatives and recognised trade unions at its operations as an ongoing process and all alternatives would be considered.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly

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