Reuters: South Africa to promote platinum as central bank reserve asset

So why haven't they figured this out for gold too? Are there no patriots in South Africa's government?

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South African Mine Industry Job Plan Targets Platinum as Central Bank Reserve Asset

By Ed Stoddard
Reuters
Wednesday, August 26, 2015

JOHANNESBURG, South African -- South Africa's mining industry, unions, and the government have committed to a broad plan to stem job losses, including boosting platinum by promoting the metal as a central bank reserve asset, according to a draft agreement seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

The parties also said they would strive to delay layoffs, sell distressed mining assets instead of closing them, and look at ways of streamlining the legal process employers must follow to cut jobs.

The mining industry, which contributes around 7 percent to Africa's most developed economy, is struggling with sinking commodity prices, rising costs, and labor unrest, forcing a number of companies into mine closures and layoffs.

The agreement is expected to be signed on Monday next week after its details were hammered out on Tuesday.

The draft agreement lays out 10 wide interventions including getting the BRICS group of emerging nations to hold "platinum as a reserve asset" -- like gold -- in their central banks. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa comprise the BRICS.

South Africa sits on close to 80 percent of the world's known reserves of platinum, a metal used in emissions-capping catalytic converters and facing depressed demand. ...

... For the remainder of the report:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/26/us-safrica-mining-idUSKCN0QV0W...