Platinum group metal (PGM) and chrome co-producer Tharisa Minerals on Friday announced the unconditional purchase of mining equipment from MCC Contracts as part of its switch to owner mining, which includes the employment of 900 MCC employees, effective from October 1. The company, which has until now used mining contractors at its operations, believes the transition to owner mining is the next logical step in its development, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed company said in a release to Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly Online.