Recent developments: South Africa

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry

OSTI ID:104849

Second quarter output from South African Chamber of Mines producers totaled 2,607,894 pounds U{sub 3}O{sub 8}, a 4.37 percent increase over the first quarter of 1988. Six mines showed higher production levels, three of which were up by more than ten percent. Buffelsfontein reported the greatest increase over last quarter of 15.5 percent, while Driefontein Consolidated had the most dramatic decline in production - 22.7 percent. Randfontein experienced a 12-percent decrease in production due to difficulties in maintaining recovery grades. Contract discussions are now underway with Randfontein`s major customer, the French nuclear agency, which financed construction of the Randfontein uranium recovery plant. The pay dispute between South Africa`s National Union of Mineworkers and the Chamber of Mines was resolved this month, and the Union agreed to accept a sliding scale wage increase of 13 to 16.5 percent. This marks the lowest wage increase in years, barely above South Africa`s current 13.4-percent inflation rate. The agreement also provides for the establishment of a provident fund for black mineworkers. One year ago, a lengthy strike called by the Mineworkers Union appreciably disrupted South African production.

• OSTI ID: 104849
• Journal Information: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry, Journal Name: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry Journal Issue: 240; ISSN 0742-4582; ISSN NUEXD3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
OPERATION
PRODUCTION
SOUTH AFRICA
URANIUM
URANIUM MINES
URANIUM OXIDES U3O8