S.Africa's Transnet strike may impact manganese exports -Jupiter

Jupiter Mines

07/10/2022 08:18

Oct 7 (Reuters) - The strike at South Africa's logistics
utility Transnet could impact manganese exports from the world's
top producer, Australia-listed Jupiter Mines  JMS.AX  said on
Friday.
    Transnet, which operates South Africa's freight rail network
and all of the country's ports, declared force majeure at its
ports on Thursday after some workers began a strike over wages. 
    "The strike may affect the Tshipi Borwa Manganese Mine
(Tshipi) operations with regards to its rail logistics and port
operations," Jupiter, which owns 49.9% of the Northern Cape
mine, said in a statement. 
    Jupiter said while rail operations had been disrupted by the
strike, ship loading was continuing. 
    Current port stocks of manganese ore from Tshipi are
sufficient to load vessels scheduled for the next 10 days and
management was exploring the use of trucks to haul the mineral
to port, Jupiter said.
    The United National Transport Union (UNTU) and the South
African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (SATAWU), which
together represent most Transnet workers, this week turned down
Transnet's offer of a wage rise of 3%-4%, saying it was below
South Africa's annual inflation rate, which was 7.6% in August. 
    UNTU started their walkout on Thursday, while SATAWU will
join the strike on Monday. 
 (Reporting by Nelson Banya; editing by Jason Neely)
 ((Nelson.Banya@thomsonreuters.com;))