London-based Lonmin is the third largest platinum producer in the world, with annual production currently at about 932,900 ounces of platinum (for the financial year to 30 September 2003), which equate to some 1,76 million ounces of PGMs. Lonmin, with the acquisition of Impala's stake in Lonplats, now owns 82% of Lonmin Platinum (Lonplats), with the newly formed Incwala Resources holding the balance of 18%.

Lonplats comprises three individual companies, namely Western Platinum Ltd (WPL) (incorporating the Western Platinum mine, Karee mine, Base Metal Refinery, the Smelter and the Western Platinum Refinery), Eastern Platinum Ltd (EPL) (which operates the Eastern Platinum mine) and Western Metal Sales Ltd (a Bermuda-registered company which markets the products from WPL and EPL). The mines are all located in the Mooi Nooi/Marikana area of the south-western Bushveld Complex, while the refinery is situated in Brakpan on the East Rand. The mines mainly exploit the UG2 Reef (82% of production), milling a total of some 14 million tons a year (both Merensky and UG2) at an average cash cost of some R2, 000 per refined ounce of PGM.