Glencore, Merafe could cut up to 665 jobs at South African smelter
JOHANNESBURG – Joint venture partners Glencore and Merafe Resources could cut up to 665 jobs at their Rustenburg ferrochrome smelter in South Africa because of problems including power cuts and rising electricity tariffs.
The potential job cuts highlight the risks posed to Africa’s most industrialised economy by struggling state power utility Eskom, which is battling breakdowns at its creaking coal-fired power plants and is mired in a financial crisis.
Some mining and metals companies say steep tariff increases granted to Eskom over the past decade now threaten the viability of their operations.
Source: iol.co.za
