JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) − Production at Eastern Platinum’s (Eastplats) flagship Crocodile River mine (CRM) fell by one third to 20 528 oz in the June quarter , owing to labour issues at its South African mine, the TSX-, Aim- and JSE-listed company reported on Tuesday.

“Second-quarter production, including concentrator recovery, was negatively impacted by labour issues related to the illegal underground sit-in followed by an unprotected strike at the CRM operation,” the company said in a statement.

The mine produced 25 387 oz in the first quarter of the year compared with 30 820 oz in the corresponding period last year.

With the suspension of 155 production workers, resources have been consolidated into the Zandfontein operations and the services of JIC Mining have been engaged on a fixed-term contract to restore full production at the Maroelabult section during the third quarter.

The company expected platinum-group metals production for 2011 to be about 105 000 oz, which was based on the actual production results for the first half of 2011, the operating history of CRM and the budgeted plan for the remainder of the year. In 2010, it sold 131 900 oz.

Meanwhile, production for the 90 000-t/m Mareesburg openpit/concentrator project, on the Eastern Limb, is expected to start in late 2012.
 

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