JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Kumba Iron Ore has boosted production for the first three months of the year by 10% to 11.3-million tonnes, as the Anglo American subsidiary reported continued strong performances from its Sishen and Kolomela mines, in the Northern Cape.

Similarly, domestic sales volumes for the quarter ended March 31 increased by 60% compared with the first three months of last year, and by 8% compared with the previous quarter to 1.4-million tonnes, owing to increased offtake by steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal South Africa.

In contrast, total export sales volumes decreased by 5% compared with the first quarter of 2013 and by 1% compared with the prior quarter to 9.4-million tonnes.

Total finished product stocks were 3.6-million tonnes at the end of the quarter, compared with 3.3-million tonnes at the end of the March 2013 quarter and 2.8-million tonnes on December 31.

Implementation of the production recovery plan at the Sishen mine, meanwhile, continued during the quarter, although this was hampered by excessive rainfall that affected waste removal.

The mine recorded 430 mm of rain in the first quarter of the year, more than its yearly average rainfall of 385 mm.

Iron-ore production at Sishen increased by 15% on the comparable prior year’s quarter – which was negatively impacted by the unprotected strike in the fourth quarter of 2012 – to 8.7-million tonnes.

Sishen remained on track to produce 35-million tonnes in 2014. 

Meanwhile, the Kolomela mine continued its strong performance into the first three months of the year, producing 2.5-million tonnes for the quarter and remaining on track to produce ten-million tonnes for the year.

During the quarter, a reclaimer at Kolomela, which moved product onto the rail loading conveyor, suffered structural failure and was out of service for maintenance for five weeks.

This event reduced dispatches from Kolomela during the quarter, which was expected to be made up during the end of the second quarter.

Production at the Thabazimbi mine, in Limpopo, increased by 52% compared with the first quarter of 2013 and by 4% compared with the previous quarter to 200 000 t.