Amplats’s full-year production figures are being maintained
ANGLO American Platinum (Amplats), the world’s largest platinum producer, yesterday maintained its full-year production figures as it posted a 5 percent higher input for the second quarter.
Amplats, a subsidiary of diversified mining giant Anglo American, said yesterday that full-year production would remain at between 2.35 million and 2.4million platinum ounces.
This as second-quarter production came at 617 000 ounces with strong performances from the Mogalakwena and Amandelbult operations, both based in Limpopo, as well as Zimbabwe’s Unki Mine.
Amplats said the production improvement was higher, despite the Twickenham project in Limpopo being placed on care and maintenance in the second half of last year, reducing unprofitable platinum production by 1 900 ounces.
Production at the open-pit Mogalakwena Mine increased by 15 percent in the second quarter at 113 900 ounces.
The company said the Mogalakwena production increased performance was due to a strong increase in built-up head grade of 7 percent, resulting from mining in a particular high-grade area in line with the mine plan, and a 9 percent increase in concentrator throughput due to North concentrator plant optimisations, which increased the run time.
Sibonginkosi Nyanga, an analyst at Momentum SP Reid said the improved production figures at Mogalakwena were a glimmer of hope in terms of costs. “Mogalakwena is a lowcost producer, and the higher production means that costs will be impacted positively.”
Amandelbult production increased by 4 percent to 110 500 ounces, due to improved plant recoveries and increased throughputs from underground sources. Production at Unki was 10 percent higher and came in at 19 500 ounces, as continued efforts in efficient mining height control have reduced waste, leading to increased grade and higher production.
However, Union production came 3 percent lower at 39 800 ounces, due to a reduction in mining of Merensky ore, which reduced the overall grade.
The company in February announced that it had sold Union to Siyanda Resources, expected to be complete by yearend.