SL Mining has called for authorities to cancel the decision and threatened to "pursue all available remedies against the government."

Eskom’s coal costs have risen almost 22% since 2016.

Implats said the transaction would "reposition its portfolio and strengthen its competitive positioning in line with its stated strategy by acquiring a palladium-rich, operating asset in an established mining jurisdiction".

Congo is a leading miner of cobalt, copper, gold, tin and diamonds but remains one of the world's least developed countries.