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Empresas y finanzas

Mbeki says power problem can be overcome


    CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday South Africa could overcome in a "relatively short period" a power supply crisis that has hurt the mining industry and raised concerns among foreign investors.

    In a state of the nation address to parliament, Mbeki saidhis government would maintain its fiscal policies to supportcontinued economic growth.

    Power shortages last month forced gold and platinum minersin South Africa -- a leading producer of both metals -- to shutdown for five days, pushing global prices for the commoditiesto record highs.

    "We face an emergency but we can overcome the problems in arelatively short period," said Mbeki.

    "We are a minerals resource economy. We must thereforecontinue to support the mining industry."

    (Reporting by Paul Simao)