JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Platinum miner Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats’) group equivalent platinum production for the three months ended December increased by 25% year-on-year to 520 000 oz as its Rustenburg, Amandelbult and Union mines, in the North West, normalised after being impacted by industrial action in 2012.

During the fourth quarter of 2013, Rustenburg, Amandelbult and Union increased production collectively by 38%, compared with particularly low production in the fourth quarter of 2012, owing to illegal industrial action, Amplats said on Wednesday in its quarterly production report.

However, quarter-on-quarter production at Rustenburg decreased by 41% as a result of the Khomanani mine, Khuseleka 2 shaft and Union North declines having been shut since August 2013, in line with Amplats’ proposed restructuring plans.

The resources from these mines had been integrated into the surrounding operations.

Amplats’ equivalent refined platinum production of 311 000 oz from its own mines, including the Western Limb tailings retreatment plant, near Rustenburg, in the North West, reflected a 35% increase compared with the prior corresponding period, mainly as a result of the illegal industrial action that depressed production in 2012.

Production from joint ventures and associates, including both own mines and purchased production, increased by 13% to 210 000 oz.

Meanwhile, production at the miner’s Mogalakwena mine, in Limpopo, increased by 24% as a result of business improvement programmes that had improved recoveries and throughput at the concentrator. Material was also processed at a third-party concentrator on a toll basis during 2013.

Further, production at the Tumela and Dishaba mines, in Limpopo, was still affected in the fourth quarter by shortages of production crews and supervisors, as a result of the extended Section 189 retrenchment process.

However, the redeployment-of-labour programme had been concluded and productivity improvements were expected be seen in 2014, Amplats said.

The miner also stated that refined platinum production in the fourth quarter of 2013 amounted to 692 000 oz, which was marginally lower than that of 2012 with total production for the year amounting to 2.3-million ounces, which was in line with production plans and guidance. 

Refined production of palladium and rhodium increased by 4% and decreased by 8% respectively as a result of a different source mix from operations and different pipeline processing times for each metal.

Nickel production saw a 33% increase as plant capacity increased following the resolution of technical challenges in the new nickel tank house and as ramp-up continued.