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Furnace restarted at Assmang’s
Cato Ridge Works
Johannesburg, 8 April 2008
Assmang
Limited has resumed ferromanganese production with the recommissioning of
one of its six furnaces at its Cato Ridge Works, outside Durban, KwaZulu Natal. The
Department of Labour gave the go-ahead on Friday, 4 April 2008 for the
first furnace to be recommissioned.
“Following a thorough risk
assessment and the introduction of additional safety measures, the
Department of Labour revoked its prohibition order for the first of the six
furnaces after consultations with ourselves and organised labour,” said Princess Thwala, senior general manager at
Assmang’s Cato Ridge Works.
“The
tragic incident on 24 February 2008 in which lives were lost has re-sharpened
our focus on safety and overall employee wellness at Cato Ridge Works.
Safety is paramount in our business and there is no substitute for
it.”
Assmang
executive director Jan Steenkamp
also welcomed the opening of the first furnace, adding that the company was
doing its best to ensure there was no repeat of similar incidents.
Assmang has implemented safety measures proposed by the independent
investigator as required by the Department of Labour, including the
construction of blast protection walls surrounding the control rooms of the
furnaces.
“It
is imperative that we get back to business under circumstances that
optimise shareholder value without compromising people’s
lives,” said Steenkamp.
Should
the Department of Labour give the green light to recommission three other
furnaces this week, four furnaces may be in full operation at the plant by
the end of the week. A planned shutdown period for the fifth furnace
has been brought forward with recommissioning expected in mid-May.
The sixth furnace, damaged extensively in the explosion of 24 February, is
expected to be recommissioned in the 4th quarter of 2008.
ENDS
For more information please
contact:
Jan Steenkamp
Chief Executive: ARM Ferrous
Assmang Executive Director
Office:
+27 11
779 1108
Mobile:
+27(0)
82 492 6948
E-mail:
jan.steenkamp@arm.co.za
or
Monique Swartz
Corporate Development & Head
of Investor Relations
Office:
+27 11 779 1507
Mobile:
+27(0) 83 411 2881
E-mail:
monique.swartz@arm.co.za
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