* Zuma says Lonmin must file compliant plan or risk losingpermit
* Warning puts pressure on Lonmin to spend on workers'housing
By Tiisetso Motsoeneng
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 12 (Reuters) - South Africa-focusedplatinum miner Lonmin is confident of submitting a planto build workers' housing that meets government requirements, itsaid on Monday, after President Jacob Zuma threatened to revokeits mining permit if it failed to do so.
Zuma's warning on Sunday piles pressure on the company tospend more on workers' housing at a time when it is cuttingcosts after being saved from the brink of collapse last year bya deeply discounted $400 million equity cash call.
To secure a mining licence, mining companies must submit aplan for housing and living conditions for their workers, manyof whom come from former "homelands", far from the mines, whereblacks were forced to live in South Africa's racist past.
An inquiry into the death of 34 striking miners, shot bySouth African police outside Lonmin's Marikana mine in 2012,criticised Lonmin in 2015 for failing to comply with its socialand housing obligations.
The 2015 report, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, saidthe mines department should take steps to enforce the rules.
After South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources askedfor revisions to Lonmin's housing plan in September, "thecompany is currently reviewing its plan and is confident that itwill submit a plan that is compliant," Lonmin said in astatement.
Lonmin's employee housing plan includes building apartmentsand converting crowded men-only hostels on mine property intobachelor apartments and family units.
Lonmin said in the statement it had completed the conversionof all hostels into 1,908 single and 776 family units.
Zuma said on Sunday his government would consider takingsterner measures that include revoking or suspending Lonmin'smining permit if the company failed to present a housing planwith clear timelines.
"A compliant housing plan will be requested from Lonmin,failing which immediate action in the form of suspension orcancellation of the mining right will be taken," Zuma said instatement.
Last month, Lonmin reported earnings before interest and tax(EBIT) of $7 million for the year ended Sept. 30 versus a lossof $134 million a year earlier and said it would continueclosing inefficient production in 2017 to cut costs.
Shares in the company, which are also listed in London, closed 1.7 percent lower at 24.28 rand in Johannesburg,largely in line with peers. ($1 = 13.6436 rand) (Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng; Editing by Adrian Croft)
