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Anglo’s all-in 2015 production up despite stuttering South African inputs

Anglo's Goedehoop Colliery

Anglo's Goedehoop Colliery

28th January 2016

By: Martin Creamer

Creamer Media Editor

  

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JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The 2015 full-year production of Anglo American increased by 5% on a copper equivalent basis, despite lower iron-ore and thermal coal contributions from South Africa and a flat performance by platinum.

The London- and Johannesburg-listed diversified mining company said in a production report on Thursday that the group’s overall output on a copper equivalent basis in the three months to December 31 was up 3% on the previous quarter.

But iron-ore production from Kumba Iron Ore decreased by 12% to 10.9-million tonnes as a result of the pit of the Sishen mine transitioning to a lower cost configuration, export thermal coal production fell 21% to 7.7-million tonnes on strikes in South Africa and weather at Cerrejón in Colombia, platinum production stayed flat at 598 000 oz and diamond production decreased by 16% to 7.1-million carats in line with De Beers’ decision to lower production in response to adverse trading conditions.

South Africa produced 19% less export thermal coal at 3.9-million tonnes and coal produced for Eskom fell 26% to 5.5-million tonnes on lower demand from the State power utility, as well as safety stoppages at the New Denmark coal mine.

The production of manganese ore fell 32% on South32's temporary suspension of operations at the Wessels and Mamatwan mines in South Africa’s Northern Cape province after a fatal incident in November and manganese alloy production fell 46% on the suspension of three of the four furnaces at Metalloys in South Africa owing to poor market conditions.

Lifting overall production performance were an 11% increase in the export of metallurgical coal to 5.5-million tonnes in Australia, a 23% increase in copper production to 181 400 t on higher grades, better throughput and improved metal recoveries, a 57% increase in nickel output to 10 500 t, a 23% increase in niobium production to 1 600 t in South America, a fourfold iron-ore increase to 3.3-million tonnes at Minas-Rio in Brazil, while the production of phosphates concentrate production remained unchanged and fertiliser production increased 6% on of good granulation plant performance.

Platinum production from Anglo American Platinum’s own mines and tailings retreatment activities increased by 9 000 oz to 398 000 oz on higher production from Amandelbult in the North West province and Unki in Zimbabwe, which was offset partially by lower production from Union and Rustenburg. Refined platinum production rose 30% to 745 000 oz.

The low-cost, efficient Mogalakwena mine in Limpopo province marked time at 98 000 oz in the quarter, Amandelbult upped its output by 14% to 121 000 oz and Unki output rose 19% to 19 000 oz on improved mining efficiencies and plant performance.

At Debswana in Botswana, diamond production dropped 21% to 4.7-million carats as fewer tonnes were treated at Jwaneng and Orapa, while production at De Beers Consolidated Mines in South Africa rose marginally to 1.5-million carats, despite an output decline at the flagship Venetia operation.

Voorspoed in the Free State and Kimberley Mines in the Northern Cape both increased production, while output at Namdeb Holdings in Namibia fell 18% to 0.4-million carats on lower grade areas.

Diamond production in Canada fell 8% to 0.4-million carats and rough diamond sales volumes in the quarter were 3.6-million carats, compared with 3.0-million carats in the previous quarter, reflecting weaker trading conditions and higher pipeline stocks
that impacted the midstream.

The Sishen iron-ore mine in the Northern Cape was 17% down at 7.7-million tonnes, while the new Kolomela produced 5% more at 2.9 million tonnes.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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