Assmang Limited has resumed ferromanganese production on Furnace 2 at its Cato Ridge Works. This follows a small burn through on the shell of the furnace on Saturday, 19 April 2008. Repairs to the furnace were completed yesterday following which the Department of Labour lifted its prohibition order.

Burn throughs of this nature are not unusual occurrences in furnace operations in South Africa and around the world and at no time was there any risk to employees or the plant.

Four furnaces are now operational at the plant with the shutdown for planned maintenance on the fifth furnace progressing well. This furnace is expected to be recommissioned mid-May. The sixth furnace, damaged extensively in the explosion of 24 February, is expected to be recommissioned in the 4th quarter of 2008.