JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – JSE-listed Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) equivalent refined platinum production has increased by 50% to 536 000 oz for the three months ended March, compared with the strike-impacted first quarter of 2014.
The company reported on Thursday that its large openpit Mogalakwena mine, in Mokopane, delivered a 13% production increase to 100 000 oz, owing to improved mining performance, recoveries and higher grades.
Further, the platinum miner reported that production at its Rustenburg operation continued strongly quarter-on-quarter, producing 106 000 oz, while its Amandelbult and Union mines were impacted in the quarter owing to Section 54 safety stoppages.
The two mines produced 81 000 oz and 32 000 oz, respectively.
Quarter-on-quarter, the company also saw marginally lower production, owing to the first quarter of the year having less working shifts than the final quarter of 2014.
Production from its joint venture and associate operations, mined and purchased, decreased by 6% to 172 000 oz, compared with 183 000 oz in the first quarter of 2014.
Production at Bafokeng-Rasimone Platinum Mine (BRPM) was also impacted owing to a fatal incident at the BRPM North shaft and at Kroondal, owing to Section 54 safety stoppages at the mine.
Refined platinum production increased by 25% to 542 400 oz, following the industrial action experienced in the 2014 first quarter. Refined palladium and rhodium increased for similar reasons. The mix of metals returned to normal compositions as all mines were now producing around normal production rates.
The company noted that its full-year refined production guidance remained unchanged at 2.3-million ounces to 2.4-million ounces.