Keaton Energy has released the following quarterly production statement for the period ended 30 June 2013. The safety performance at both group collieries remained excellent for the period with Vanggatfontein reporting a LTIFR of 0.05 and Vaalkrantz a LTIFR of 0.36 as at end June 2013. Keaton Energy’s focus remains on the safety of our employees. Production growth continued strongly in the quarter. Vanggatfontein Colliery delivered 526 034t of washed 2- and 4-Seam thermal coal to Eskom in the quarter, an increase of 48% from the previous quarter’s 356 518t and some 70% higher than the corresponding period last year.

5-Seam metallurgical coal sales into the domestic market increased by 26% to 25 246t from 20 111t in the previous quarter, and were up 43% on the corresponding period last year. In addition some 78 071t of third party coal was toll washed versus 68 110t in the previous quarter and zero in the corresponding period last year.
 Mandi Glad, Chief Executive Officer said, “As expected, the strong end to FY13 continued with record production and cash generation during the first quarter of FY14. Vanggatfontein looks set to deliver outstanding results this year”.

Production at Keaton Energy’s Vaalkrantz Colliery in Kwazulu-Natal province was affected by geological difficulties, but the mine still dispatched 76 454t of anthracite to domestic and export customers in the 3 month period to 30 June 2013, down 2% compared with the previous quarter’s 78 348t and down only 9% versus the corresponding period last year. Glad continues “Vaalkrantz’s performance, in the face of continuing challenging geological conditions, is pleasing both from production and safety perspectives. With the long-life Vanggatfontein mine now approaching steady state, our priority remains to grow our business by advancing our internal pipeline of development projects, aggressively pursuing acquisition opportunities and further optimising the performance of our existing operations”.