Operations at the Lion ferrochrome smelter and Eastern Chrome mines of the Glencore Merafe Chrome Venture have recommenced, but the Boshoek, Rustenburg, Wonderkop, Lydenburg smelters and Kroondal mine will remain on care and maintenance until the macroeconomic environment improves, Merafe Resources said on Friday. Coinciding with the start of South Africa’s five-week lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 on March 24, all production was stopped at the venture, in which the JSE-listed Merafe has a 20.5% participation and diversified mining and marketing company Glencore 79.5%.
