The country, however, was 100% import reliant on 20 mineral commodities, including rare earths, manganese and niobium, which are among a suite of materials often designated as “critical” or “strategic.”
Government is considering to extend the miner a temporary permit, valid for up to six months, which would pave the way for Freeport to resume exports from Grasberg.
Mines minister Mosebenzi Zwane noted that 19 of the 73 miners who died in South Africa last year lost their lives at operations run by those companies.
