ArcelorMittal Seeks To Join Kumba In Suit To Protect Price Agreement

ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd. (ACL.JO) said Friday that it wants to join Kumba Iron Ore Ltd.'s (KIO.JO) suit against South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources, in order to maintain its previous pricing agreement with Kumba.

"ArcelorMittal supported its joinder in order to protect its right to receive iron ore at cost plus 3%," said the steelmaker, which is a unit of the world's biggest steelmaker ArcelorMittal (MT).

"ArcelorMittal South Africa wishes to clarify that in seeking to be joined as an applicant in Kumba's high court application which was heard in the North Gauteng High Court, the company is not 'siding' with any of the parties," ArcelorMittal SA said.

Kumba is challenging the decision by the Department of Minerals to reject its application for mining rights to a portion of the Sishen mine, where it is the majority operator.

The right in question was previously held by ArcelorMittal but lapsed after the steelmaker failed to convert its mining right under a new system. The Department last year awarded the right to little known company Imperial Crown Trading over Kumba.

ArcelorMittal SA had an agreement with Kumba to purchase iron ore from the mine at cost plus 3% but after the steelmaker lost its stake in Sishen, Kumba said that deal lapsed.

-By Devon Maylie, Dow Jones Newswires; [phone]; [e-mail]