JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – JSE-listed Kumba Iron Ore’s production increased 10% year-on-year to 12.43-million tonnes in the quarter ended December 31.
The fourth-quarter production was, however, 4% lower than the 12.97-million tonnes produced in the third quarter of 2014.
Output at the Anglo American subsidiary’s Sishen mine increased by 11% year-on-year to 9.3-million tonnes in the December quarter. Production was in line with that of the third quarter.
Waste removal at the mine had increased by 20% to 50-million tonnes in the quarter under review, taking the full-year total to 187-million tonnes. This was below the previously announced 2014 target of 220-million tonnes; however, the redesign of the western pushbacks of the pit, in conjunction with the increased vertical rate of advance, and current waste removal run rates, had exposed sufficient ore to support the mine’s 2015 production target of 36-million tonnes.
The Kolomela mine produced 2.7-million tonnes of iron-ore in the quarter under review, in line with that produced in the fourth quarter of 2013 but 19% lower than production in the third quarter of 2014.
The Limpopo-based Thabazimbi mine more than doubled its output to 418 000 t, from 151 000 t in the fourth quarter of 2013. Production was also 25% higher than the 333 000 t produced in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, export sales volumes had increased by 23% year-on-year and 29% quarter-on-quarter to 11.7-million tonnes, while local sales volumes fell by 31% year-on-year and 20% quarter-on-quarter to 900 000 t in the fourth quarter.