Palabora reports lower output for March quarter
miningweekly.com
By: Esmarie Swanepoel
20th April 2009
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – JSE-listed Palabora on Monday stated that daily production from its underground mine in Limpopo had averaged 32 953 t for the quarter ended March 2008.
The production during the quarter was consistent with the previous quarter, but 11% higher than the corresponding period in 2008. In total, 2,9-million tons of ore was hoisted during the quarter with a copper grade of 0,68% marginally better than that of the previous quarter’s grade.
The ore treated was 11% lower sequentially and 12% lower year-on-year, mainly owing to a combination of the stock build following failures of both drive motors on one of the automills and not processing marginal ore as was the case in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Palabora said that copper concentrate production improved slightly by 1,5% sequentially, but was 8,4% lower year-on-year.
The drop was attributable to the halt in the company’s marginal and oxide ore processing. Copper in concentrate was 4% higher sequentially, owing to improved metal recovery rates and 7% lower year-on-year, in line with the relative decrease in production and increase in grade.
The new concentrate smelted improved by 4% sequentially and 9,6% higher year- on-year owing to more focus being placed on the smelting efficiencies. The new copper anode production was impacted by plant reliability resulting in a 2,9% lower output than the previous quarter, and 11,6% higher than the corresponding period in 2008, the company said in a statement.
The refined new copper produced was 10% higher sequentially and 15% higher year-on-year in line with smelter output.
The nickel plant production was steadily increasing to achieve planned levels but has been limited by the optimisation of the metallurgical balances within the Tankhouse.
Magnetite production for the quarter was 64,6% higher sequentially and 73% higher year-on-year in line with the magnetite reclaim ramp-up schedule, while vermiculite production was 6% higher sequentially and 4% higher year-on-year and indications were that this production rate will be maintained for the remainder of the year.
Improvement work was done on large grade material by increasing the size range, which was welcomed by the international market. |
