Implats CEO says SA Platinum strike could last much longer

By Silvia Antonioli

LONDON (Reuters) – Feedback from day one of court-mediated talks with the world's largest platinum producers and South Africa's main mining union was lukewarm, the chief executive of Impala Platinum said, adding the four-month strike could last much longer.

South African platinum miners Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Impala Platinum (Implats) and Lonmin have been battered by a mining strike over wages that began on Jan. 23 and has cost the trio collectively almost $2 billion in lost revenue.

The talks, aimed at ending South Africa's longest-ever mining dispute, started on Wednesday and should last for up to three days.

"So far as hope is concerned, the feedback that I have got was lukewarm from yesterday but they are going back into session today," Implats CEO Terence Goodlace, in an exclusive interview with Reuters, said about the talks.

Asked how long the strike could last, Goodlace said:

"It's almost like how long is a piece of string. I suppose the proper answer to it is that it could go on for much longer because we are so far apart between the two parties … My expectation is they will probably go on for longer."