Amplats Halts Tumela Mine After Flooding, Keeps Production Target

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) has temporarily suspended operations at its Tumela mine in South Africa due to severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall in the region. Despite this disruption, the company maintains its annual production forecast.

Over the past week, northern South Africa has experienced intense rainfall, leading to widespread flooding. The Tumela mine, part of Amplats' Amandelbult complex, was significantly affected, with water ingress overwhelming pumping capacity and flooding certain underground workings and the main pump station. This situation was exacerbated by the collapse of the Bierspruit dam near Swartklip.

In contrast, other operations within the Amandelbult complex, including the main Dishaba mine, the concentrator, and associated infrastructure, were largely unaffected. These facilities resumed operations on Monday, February 24, after a brief suspension. 

Amplats is currently conducting a detailed impact assessment and developing a recovery plan to ensure the safe resumption of production at the Tumela mine, which contributes approximately 10% to the company's monthly metal-in-concentrate output. Preliminary evaluations suggest that the 2025 production guidance of 3.0 to 3.4 million ounces of platinum group metals (PGMs) will remain unaffected by this incident. 

This operational challenge follows Amplats' recent financial report on February 17, which indicated a 40% decline in profit for 2024, amounting to 8.4 billion rand ($458.56 million), primarily due to lower PGM prices. 

The safety of employees and surrounding communities remains a top priority for Amplats. The company is collaborating with local authorities to provide necessary support to those affected by the floods.