Precious metals mining company Sibanye Gold has given notice of skyrocketing earnings.

The company, headed by CEO Neal Froneman, told shareholders last week that its 2016 headline earnings per share would be at least 330% higher and normalised earnings at least 200% higher than in 2015.

For 2016, Sibanye is expecting headline earnings per share of at least 318c and normalised earnings per share of at least 429c.

ts trading statement is based on an average rand gold price of R59 000/kg for the year.

In the three months to September 30, group operating profit from gold and platinum soared 71% to R2.7-billion, with gold contributing R2.5-billion at a 36% profit margin and platinum contributing R190-million at a 25% profit margin.

Seven per cent lower quarterly gold production of 382 500 oz (11 897 kg) pushed up all-in sustaining costs to R479 785/kg from R420 811/kg in 2015, while the platinum division’s output of 94 791 oz was its best September-quarter production in more than a decade.

The Kloof gold mine had a much-improved quarter and surface gold production increased, but all the remaining gold operations had lower output, with Driefontein experiencing production disruption, Beatrix producing 11% less year-on-year and Cooke's output falling, following the closure of the Cooke 4 underground operation.

Sibanye is guiding lower gold production of 48 500 kg for the 12 months to December 30 – 1 500 kg down on previous guidance – and fourth-quarter platinum production of 88 000 oz, at a cash operating cost of $693/oz.

Increased third-quarter production at Platinum Mile lifted the operation’s cash margin to a high 39%.

Sibanye’s safety record was blighted in the quarter when gold division employees Mongezi Bagege, EnockTsabedze and Lehlohonolo Masithela were fatally injured in July and platinum-division employee Kabelo Rangagwa was fatally injured at Sibanye’s Kroondal mine in August.