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South Africa’s Blackouts Threaten Platinum Supply in Top Miner

  • Blackouts are a headache for South Africa’s deep, aging mines
  • Miners may not be able to go underground if situation worsens
Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd., mine in Rustenburg. 

Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd., mine in Rustenburg. 

Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg
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South Africa’s worst ever power blackouts are threatening platinum and palladium supplies in the top miner, both now and in the years ahead.

Outages last year curbed output of the metals, and the power crisis that’s crimping the economy has worsened in recent months. The nation’s platinum-group metals production will likely fall this year, according to Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd.