Paladin Energy Ltd: Kayelekera Industrial Action
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/14/12 -- Paladin Energy Ltd. (TSX: PDN)(ASX: PDN) (Paladin or the Company) wishes to advise that on Friday 11 May the majority of the local work force at Kayelekera walked off the minesite in protest of the Company's refusal to accede to an unprecedented demand to grant an immediate 66% pay increase (pegged in US dollars) following the recent 50% devaluation of the national currency, the Kwacha, by the Government of Malawi.
The local employees, provoked by a small militant core, gave the Company 24 hours in which to respond to their unrealistic claims. Paladin is advised that they plan to return to the site on Tuesday, 15 May 2012 (Monday, 14 May 2012 is a public holiday in Malawi).
As a result of this illegal industrial action, production was shut down for some 22 hours, before recommencing midday on Saturday, 12 May. Unscheduled plant maintenance was performed during this period. The plant is expected to operate at about 65% capacity until striking national employees return to work. The expatriate workers, mining contract staff, security, essential services and some other local employees remained at or returned to work and will continue with their duties in the interim.
Paladin has informed the Government of Malawi of this illegal industrial action and the Ministry of Labour will despatch senior industrial relations officers to Kayelekera to address the situation with the work force on Tuesday when they are expected to return to work. Paladin remains confident of early resolution of this dispute, which essentially involves national rather than workplace-related issues.
The Managing Director/CEO, Mr John Borshoff, described the industrial action as "extremely unfortunate." He said: "Kayelekera Mine has been producing on target. It is indeed a great pity that this excellent performance will be marred by unnecessary and illegal industrial action. While it will have some impact on the Company's total annual production results, we do not believe this will be significant if our national employees heed the advice of Government officials and return to work on Tuesday, 15 May 2012."
ACN 061 681 098
Contacts:
Paladin Energy Ltd - In Australia
John Borshoff
Managing Director/CEO
+61 8 9381 4366 or Mobile: +61 419 912 571
john.borshoff@paladinenergy.com.au
Paladin Energy Ltd - In Canada
Greg Taylor
Investor Relations Contact
905 337-7673 or Mobile: 416 605-5120 (Toronto)
greg.taylor@paladinenergy.com.au
