Unki Mine platinum production jumps 41pc
Anglo American Platinum Limited’s Zimbabwe unit, Unki Mine’s platinum group of metals (PGM) production jumped 41 percent to 59 900 ounces for the third quarter (Q3) to September 30, 2022 compared to the same quarter last year on enhanced mining capacity.
The South African headquartered miner said its platinum production at the Zimbabwe operation rose 41 percent to 26 800 ounces while palladium production increased by 40 percent to 23 300 ounces.
According to the group, the concentrator debottlenecking project was completed in the fourth quarter of 2021, increasing concentrator capacity from 180 000 tonnes per month (ktpm) to 210ktpm. This led to a 39 percent increase in tonnes milled.
However, increased production at Unki was not enough to lift the overall group’s production figures as mines in South Africa were affected by erratic power supplies.
Anglo group chief executive officer (CEO) Natascha Viljoen indicated that power outages impacted both concentrators and smelters in the period, which led to a loss of production, as well as an increase in built-up work-in-progress inventory of 40 400 PGM ounces.
Total PGM production was 6 percent lower at 1 046 100 ounces compared to the prior period, but in line with the second production target for 2022.
Figures from the group show that total PGM production from own-managed mines decreased by 3 percent to 587 200 ounces compared to the same period last year.
Platinum production fell 4 percent to 265 400 ounces, while palladium production decreased 2 percent to 211 500 ounces primarily due to Eskom power outages, lower production from Amandelbult due to infrastructure closures and lower grade at Mogalakwena, partially offset by strong production from Unki and Mototolo.
Despite the power supply challenges, management is upbeat the group will meet its production targets for the year set at 3,7 million to 3,9 million ounces for refined PGM and metal-in-concentrate PGM guidance at 3,9 million to 4,3 million ounces.
“We maintain our guidance for 2022 and are carefully monitoring the continued impact of power outages on our operations as we progress through quarter 4,” said Viljoen.
During the quarter under review, total PGM production from joint operations went down 16 percent to 192 000 ounces. Platinum production decreased by 15 percent to 86 800 ounces while palladium production decreased by 16 percent to 57 200 ounces.
Refined PGM production (from owned production, excluding tolling) decreased by 30 percent to 994 800 ounces, due to the rebuild of the Polokwane smelter, undergoing its first full rebuild in twelve years, to ensure asset reliability. Refined platinum production decreased by 31 percent to 457 200 ounces and refined palladium production decreased by 31 percent to 317 100 ounces.
According to the group, PGM sales volumes (excluding trading) decreased by 31 percent to 933 500 ounces, in line with lower refined production. Platinum sales volumes went down 35 percent to 414 600 ounces and palladium sales volumes decreased by 35 percent to 302 000 ounces.
The average 2022 third quarter realised basket price of US$2 531/PGM ounce was lower than Q3 2021 due to lower prices.-ebusinessweekly
