Anglo American Platinum and Sibanye Stillwater have recently warned that South Africa's 2023 PGM output could be impacted significantly if the power cuts persist.
Impala's headline earnings per share (HEPS) - the main profit measure in South Africa - fell to 16.54 rand ($0.9089) in the six months to Dec. 31, from 16.90 rand the previous year. Its refined output declined 9% to 1.476 million ounces from 1.617 million ounces in the same period last year. "Smelting capacity was constrained by increased (electricity) load curtailment and the scheduled rebuild of the Number 4 Furnace in Rustenburg, which started in late November 2022," Impala said in a statement. Impala, which has operations in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Canada, declared an interim dividend of 4.20 rand per share. The company is still pursuing its bid to acquire mid-tier Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) , despite a competing offer by smaller rival Northam Platinum .
Impala, which already owns 40.71% of RBPlat, recently
extended the closing date of its offer to RBPlat shareholders to
March 31, due to delayed regulatory approvals.
($1 = 18.1979 rand)
(Reporting by Nelson Banya; Editing by Christopher Cushing,
Subhranshu Sahu and Kim Coghill)
