A long deep future of PGM production ahead

The Western Limb producers in South Africa face a number of operational challenges, including logistical issues such as greater tramming distances in maturing shafts, higher costs associated with mining at increasing depths, pressure from mine safety inspectors and rising electricity tariffs. In addition, several projects have incurred delays and now require longer lead times to reach production, thus replacement supply is no longer keeping up with depletion at existing shafts.