Anglo Platinum

  Anglo Platinum ltd is the world's largest primary producer of platinum, accounting for about 38% of the world's annual production. The company, based in South Africa, was previously called "Anglo American Platinum Corporation Limited". Anglo Platinum expects to produce approximately 2.9 million ounces of refined platinum in 2006.

Most of the group's operations lie to the northwest and northeast of Johannesburg. The majority of the company's operations take place in the Bushveld Complex, a large region that contains a range of mineral commodities including chromium, vanadium, titaniferous magnetite and platinum group metals.

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History

Anglo Platinum came into being in 1995 when the company Johannesburg Consolidated Investments unbundled. The platinum interests of the company became Amplats, later to be renamed the Anglo Platinum Corporation Limited. Although Anglo American is a major shareholder in Anglo Platinum, the latter is listed as a separate company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and on the London and Brussels Bourses.

Controversy

Anglo Platinum, the world's largest platinum miner and a subsidiary of Anglo American PLC, the world's second largest mining corporation, filed SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) against a South African public interest lawyer Richard Spoor, who represented indigenous communities affected by platinum mining on tribal land. The actions include an application in the High Court for a so-called gagging order, ostensibly to prevent him further injuring the good name and reputation of the corporation, the lodging of complaints with the Law Society of unprofessional behaviour and the lodging of a civil action for damages for some $500,000.00. Anglo Platinum also obtained an ex parte (without notice) order interdicting two tribal chiefs from interfering with their mining operations and had them arrested on charges of intimidation and trespass. Subsequently, followers of the two tribal chiefs were shot, beaten and arrested for protesting the mine's presence on tribal land.[citation needed]

In August 2007 British charity War on Want published a report accusing Anglo Platinum's parent company Anglo American of profiting from the abuse of people in the developing countries in which the company operates.^[1]. In the report, Anglo Platinum is accused of displacing communities in South Africa, including forcing the entire Magobading community off its land and into the Mecklenberg township.

Operations and products

The company's major facilities and production areas include:

• Rustenburg production area
• Amandelbult production area
• Union production area
• Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mines
• Potgietersrus Platinum Mines
• Lebowa Platinum Mines
• Modikwa Platinum Mine
• Kroondal Pooling and Shared Agreement
• Polokwane Smelter
• Waterval Smelter
• Rustenburg base metals and precious metals refiners

Anglo Platinum's products includes:

• Platinum
• Palladium
• Rhodium
• Iridium
• Ruthenium
• Osmium
• Gold
• Copper
• Nickel
• Cobalt sulphate

References

• Anglo American: The Alternative Report