Amplats continues repairs on processing facilities despite lockdown

South Africa’s Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) said on Friday repairs at its processing facilities would continue while operations its underground mines and smelter were curtailed due to a three-week lockdown over the coronavirus.

Amplats said the repairs of the Anglo Converter Plant (ACP) Phase B unit would continue after water was detected in the furnace after a fire at the facilities A unit this month, forcing the world’s second-biggest platinum producer to declare force majeure and cut its production outlook.

Mining operations at the open-pit Mogalakwena mine and at the mechanised Mototolo mine would continue on a reduced basis during the period, the company said.

(By Tanisha Heiberg; Editing by Edmund Blair)