Second furnace restarted at Assmang’s Cato Ridge Works

Ferromanganese production has resumed at a second furnace at Assmang Limited’s Cato Ridge Works. The Department of Labour lifted the prohibition order on the second furnace on Wednesday, 9 April 2008. Production at the first of Assmang’s six furnaces began on Monday, 7 April 2008.

Indications are that the Department of Labour could give permission for two more furnaces to be started up by the end of this week.

A planned shutdown period for the fifth furnace has been brought forward with recommissioning expected in mid-May. The sixth furnace, damaged extensively in the explosion of 24 February, is expected to be recommissioned in the 4th quarter of 2008.

For further details, contact:

Jan Steenkamp
Chief Executive: ARM Ferrous
Office: +27 11 779 1108
Mobile: +27(0) 82 492 6948
Email: jan.steenkamp@arm.co.za

Monique Swartz
Corporate Development & Head of Investor Relations
Office: +27 11 779 1507
Mobile: +27(0) 83 411 2881
Email: monique.swartz@arm.co.za