Sibanye-Stillwater has elected not to exercise its right to take up 51% ownership of the project.

The country was under a strict lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus in April last year, denting output.

South Africa's mines recorded 32 deaths in the first half of 2021 compared with 24 during the same period in 2020.

Surging demand and prices for commodities including platinum-group metals, iron ore, manganese and coal are generating record mining-company profits and bolstering government revenue.

Nornickel said on Wednesday it is buying 3.4% of its shares for $2 billion to compensate for a smaller recent dividend.

Potanin owns a 34.6% stake in Nornickel, which plans to buy up to 3.4% of its shares for $2-billion.

Anglo American has become the first mining company to subscribe to the IUCN’s eBioAtlas.