JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Anglo American subsidiary Kumba Iron Ore’s production decreased by 2% year-on-year to 11.5-million tonnes for the quarter ended September 30.
This was owing to a 7% decrease in the Sishen mine’s production to 7.8-million tonnes, compared with 8.3-million tonnes in the third quarter of 2016.
Kumba noted that the higher production in the third quarter of 2016 had been the result of temporary access to low strip ratio ore and higher plant yields as per the mine plan.
It added that production for the third quarter of this year had been in line with the first and second quarters of the year.
Waste removal increased by 21% to 42-milion tonnes, compared with 35-million tonnes in the third quarter of 2016.
“Sishen maintained its solid and consistent performance and ongoing improvements, which have resulted in production guidance for 2017 being revised to 29-million to 30-million tonnes,” the company stated.
Waste guidance remains unchanged at 155-million tonnes to 165-million tonnes.
Production at the Kolomela iron-ore mine, meanwhile, increased to 3.7-million tonnes, up 8% year-on-year and 5% quarter-on-quarter.
The increase is mainly as a result of productivity improvements and the ramp-up of the modular plant.
Waste mined increased by 11% to 16-million tonnes, as a result of ongoing improvements in operational efficiency.
Kolomela is on track to meet full-year production and waste guidance of 13-million to 14-million tonnes and 50-million to 55-million tonnes respectively for the full year.
The company has revised its full-year production guidance to 42-million to 44-million tonnes, compared with the 41-million to 43-million tonnes previously guided, as a result of the improvements at Sishen.
Export sales, meanwhile, increased by 4% year-on-year and 14% quarter-on-quarter to 10.8-million tonnes, owing to the shipping of delayed volumes on hand at Saldanha at June 30.
Total finished product stocks comprised 4.6-million tonnes, compared with 4.4-million tonnes at June 30.
Kumba exports iron-ore to customers worldwide, including to customers in China, Japan, Korea and several countries in Europe and the Middle East.
Domestic sales, meanwhile, decreased by 9% year-on-year and 30% quarter-on-quarter to 644 000 t.
Kumba has also revised the full-year sales guidance to 42-million tonnes to 44-million tonnes.