Rössing's Management has
confirmed that employees at its uranium mine near Arandis staged a
peaceful demonstration this morning at 8:00 at the Mine's main entrance.
The Rössing Branch Executive Committee of the Mineworkers Union
of Namibia (MUN) handed a petition to the General Manager Operations,
David Salisbury and read a prepared statement. Mr Salisbury accepted
the petition and stated to the assembled employees that contract negotiations
are in progress and will continue, giving fair consideration to the points
raised in the petition. Rössing's management confirms that it is
committed to negotiate everyday until solutions to all the raised concerns
are found and agreed on by both the Union and Company. Rössing looks
forward to a joint statement affirming agreement on these matter with
the Union.
The uranium market prices remain the worst in history which forces the
Company to continuously review and reduce its cost to improve competitiveness
in the world market.
Rössing has for some time
communicated this difficult market situation with both employees and
other stakeholders and will continue to make information on the market
forces and progress toward improved competitiveness available.
Many cost increases are out
of the control of the Company, such as increases in the price of things
like water, chemicals, diesel fuel, employee benefits and inflation
rate increases have combined this year to add approximately N$70 million
to the Company's operating costs.
Fortunately, the Company's
structured business improvement programme, Rössing Beyond 2000
(RB 2000), was introduced in 1999 to assist the company to meet its
cost saving targets.
The target is to reduce the overall cost base by more than N$100 million
by the middle of 2001. The programme is well supported by all employees
through the implementation of cost saving projects and to date a saving
of N$66.6 million has been reached.
Rössing contributes more than N$ 500 million directly into the
local economy. Rössing's management is confident in the long term
future of the Company and the management team, along with the employees,
are working hard to reduce costs and make the operation more competitive
in the world uranium market.
Issued by:
David Salisbury
General Manager Operations
Rössing Uranium
Tel. 064 520 2316
Fax. 064 520 2253