COVID-19 Update

RNS Number : 3465H

South32 Limited

24 March 2020

 

24 March 2020

South32 Limited

(Incorporated in Australia under the Corporations Act 2001)

(ACN 093 732 597)

ASX / LSE / JSE Share Code: S32 ADR: SOUHY
ISIN: AU000000S320

south32.net

COVID-19 UPDATE

South32 Limited (ASX, LSE, JSE: S32; ADR: SOUHY) (South32) advises the South African President has taken action to enforce a nationwide lockdown aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19, commencing midnight on Thursday 26 March 2020, for 21 days.

South32 understands that businesses essential for the maintenance of power generation in South Africa are exempt from the lockdown. We will work with the government to determine the impact of this exemption on our South African Energy Coal and South Africa Aluminium operations, given the role they play in the sustainability of Eskom's generation network.  

We are seeking clarification from government that the lockdown will extend to South Africa Manganese and have commenced planning for our manganese ore operations and the remaining furnace at our Metalloys alloy smelter to be placed on care and maintenance.

As a result of the government's announcement, we are withdrawing FY20 guidance for our South African operations and will update the market when further information becomes available.

South32 Chief Executive Officer, Graham Kerr said "Our response to COVID-19 is built around three areas - keeping our people safe and well, maintaining safe and reliable operations, and supporting our communities, all of which are critical to the future of our business.

"We have implemented a range of measures at all our locations to ensure the health and wellbeing of our people and communities, by reducing the risk of infection and the rate of spread, while maintaining day-to-day operations.  

"To-date, we have not yet experienced production interruptions from COVID-19 at any other operations. We continue to monitor the impact of restrictions being placed on the movement of people and goods by governments across the world and will continue to update the market as appropriate."

About South32

South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company.  We produce bauxite, alumina, aluminium, energy and metallurgical coal, manganese, nickel, silver, lead and zinc at our operations in Australia, Southern Africa and South America. We are also the owner of a high grade zinc, lead and silver development option in North America and have several partnerships with junior explorers with a focus on base metals. Our purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people's lives now and for generations to come, and to be trusted by our owners and partners to realise the potential of their resources.

Further Information
Investor Relations
Alex Volante T   [phone] M   [phone] E  [e-mail]	Tom Gallop T   [phone] M   [phone] E  [e-mail]
Media Relations
Rebecca Keenan T   [phone] M   [phone] E  [e-mail]	Jenny White T   [phone] M   [phone] E  [e-mail]

Further information on South32 can be found at www.south32.net .

Authorised for release by Nicole Duncan, Company Secretary

JSE Sponsor:  UBS South Africa (Pty) Ltd

24 March 2020

 

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