JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – JSE-listed ferrochrome producer Merafe Resources has posted record attributable production from the Glencore-Merafe chrome venture for the year ended December 31, 2013, with output volumes increasing by 32%, from 242 000 t in 2012 to 319 000 t in 2013.
The company said in a production announcement on Friday that the increase was the result of higher demand, which drove ferrochrome sales volumes for the year up by 23% year-on-year to 314 000 t and resulted in operating utilisation of 87% of the venture’s smelting capacity.
Meanwhile, hot commissioning of the venture’s Lion II smelter started in the last quarter of last year and would continue during the first half of this year.
First production had been slightly delayed, mainly owing to the limited availability of contractors over the December holiday period as well as heavy rainfall and windy conditions in the last quarter of 2013.
“The overall project, however, remains on schedule and within budget and it is envisaged that the smelter will be fully operational toward the middle of 2014,” stated Merafe.
The company added that the venture had not been significantly impacted by the strikes in the platinum industry and, at this stage, had adequate chrome ore supply.