Chris Griffith
Photo by: Duane Daws
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The refined platinum production of platinum mining company Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) halved in the three months to March 31, when metal-in-concentrate output rose 4%.
Refined production plummeted 52% to 261 000 oz on a Section 54 work stoppage that closed the Precious Metals Refinery for 12 days and materially impacted production for a subsequent 37 days – as well as a planned stock take.
The 4%-higher increased platinum-in-concentrate production to 567 000 oz stemmed from higher output at the Amandelbult, Mogalakwena and Unki platinum mines, Amplats reported in a media release to Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly Online.
The company, headed by CEO Chris Griffith, had no first-quarter fatalities and extended its fatality-free period to 324 days.
The lost time injury frequency rate at managed operations was a 33%-better 0.73.
Platinum production from Amplats’ own mines and tailings retreatment plants rose 7% to 381 000 oz.
Amandelbult produced a 33%-higher 111 000 oz on better mine efficiencies and improved concentrator recoveries.
Production at the high-margin Mogalakwena rose 7% to 109 000 oz on higher grade and stepped up concentrator throughput.
Fourteen per cent higher Unki output yielded 19 000 oz on improved concentrator running time and better head grade.
In total, production from retained own mine operations rose 18%, with Union mine marking time at 34 000 oz and Rustenburg falling 15 000 oz to 106 000 oz owing to ground difficulties and lower grade.
Production from joint ventures and pooling – excluding the purchase of concentrate from third parties – rose 6% to 185 000 oz on improved production at the Kroondal, Bafokeng Rasimone and Mototolo mines.
Contract termination cut third-party purchases by 10 000 oz.