* Places Everest mine on care and maintenance
* Blames labour strife, lower metal prices
* Shares fall as much as 12 pct
June 21 (Reuters) – Aquarius Platinum Ltd suspended
operations at a mine in South Africa, its second closure in as
many weeks, as the industry continues to grapple with low
prices, rising costs and labour strife.
Shares in Aquarius fell to a decade-low of 52.8 pence on
Thursday on the London Stock Exchange. They were down 9 percent
at 54.35 at 0844 GMT.
Aquarius, the fourth-largest platinum producer, said it was
placing its Everest mine on care and maintenance “pending better
prices and improved industrial relations.”
The Everest mine near Mashishing town contributed 21 percent
to group production in 2011.
Aquarius suspended operations at its Marikana joint venture
last week.
Continued…
