Lonmin Says Will Contest Order to Halt Metals Sales (Update1)

Aug. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Lonmin Plc, the world's third-biggest platinum producer, will "vigorously contest" a South African government order to halt sales of non-platinum group metals.

The Department of Mineral Resources on May 12 awarded a company belonging to South Africa's Holgoun group the rights to a "small portion" of non-platinum resources on Lonmin's Western Platinum Ltd. and Eastern Platinum Ltd. sites, London- based Lonmin said in a statement today.

"Lonmin has taken comprehensive legal advice on this matter and believes that the action taken by the DMR is wrong and the company will defend its interests robustly," it said.

Nickel, copper, chrome and other non-platinum group metals contributed $80 million of the company's revenue in the 2009 financial year, Lonmin said.