Our Commitments
Our Commitment is to build value for our shareholders safely and responsibly. We have the duty to move our platinum assets forward to production and to add platinum resources. We do our work safely with solid environmental stewardship and we look to maximize the value of projects for our shareholders, our employees, government and for the communities where we operate.
We have the same principles for operations in Canada and South Africa.
Communication
We regard communication in a climate of mutual respect as the key to all of our relationships both inside and external to the company. For our employees and contractors, we strive to listen well and insist on a climate of fair dealing and open and transparent communication.
Value
We look for value in everything we do and we look to spend the company’s money like it is our own. We strive to instill this basic value in all of our employees and contractors. We endeavor to look for multiple paths and select the one with the lowest risk and the best return. We have applied this principal on alternatives for mining and finance choices. We have worked hard to build a group of owners in our major shareholders that understand our value in the long term and that are supportive of our commitments. Our major shareholders have affirmed our view as co-owners of the business to work towards long term value in our strategic commodity – platinum.
Safety
Safety is a core value and our number 1 commitment. It is a core value that we care for people. We start every weekly project meeting with this subject and we give safety the highest priority. We have alignment on the priority of safety with all of our contractors, including but not limited to JIC Mining Services, our mining contractor for the WBJV Project 1 Platinum Mine. At this time, we have completed 940,000 man hours with one two minor lost time incidents. We are pleased to report a positive safety record to date and this does not allow us to relent on our vigilance. We include our exploration work and contractors in our focus on safety.
Responsibility
We take our obligations to protect the environment where we work seriously both in construction of the WBJV Project 1 Platinum Mine and in exploration. We keep an open mind on how we can improve our projects and we bring this approach to our interactions, in a climate of mutual respect, to our community meetings and environmental assessment processes. We start early in the exploration process with well documented reclamation of our exploration sites, open dialogue with regulators and community meetings. We assess any reclamation obligations that we have on a regular basis.
Social and Economic Goals
We are committed to local involvement in our projects to the maximum extent that is practical. We are pleased to report that in the early stages of contracting work on the WBJV Project 1 Platinum Mine we have exceeded our overall target of 30% local employment. This is the most difficult time to hire locally as time is of the essence and the required skills are specialized.
We have set out an ambitious plan for training and community involvement in the WBJV Project 1. This is good business as it increases the potential for a stable work force and community support throughout the life of the mine. We have been involved in the community of the WBJV Project 1 Platinum mine with community projects. In the past year, we have continued with a number of projects including Eat What You Grow and the Sports Academy. Top national level athletes from the Sports Academy program have been out to many local schools, interacting with children and training teachers. These programs have been very popular and successful and will be expanded. We see many opportunities to promote healthy community involvement and to highlight the mining industry as a vocational opportunity to local children.
At the WBJV Project 1, we completed a Social and Labour Plan as part of our Mining Right. The plan integrates the plans of the local municipalities into the mine plan through practical projects where the mine can assist and benefit. In terms of basic services like power and water all of the new mines in our immediate area are the essential initiative and funding for local services for the communities. Communication and co-operation in all of these areas has been open and positive.
#1:
Safety is a core value and
our number 1 commitment.
At this time we have
completed 940,000 man
hours with only two minor
lost time incidents at our
WBJV Project 1 Platinum
Mine.
30%
local employment, or more,
at the WBJV Project 1 mine
Positive union relationship
Underground teams
provided incentives for
performance
Value:
We look for value in
everything we do and
we look to spend the
company’s money like it is
our own. We strive to instill
this basic value in all of our
employees and contractors.
