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Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
PAN-AFRICAN resource firm, Mwana Africa, says production at its Freda Rebecca Gold Mine and Bindura Nickel Corporation has increased reflecting higher tonnage mined and milled during the first quarter. In a quarterly update on operations and exploration activity for the period ending March 31, 2014, Mwana Africa said the gold milled at Freda Rebecca for the period under review was eight percent higher at 279,879 tonnes compared to 258,184 tonnes in the last quarter.
“The increase in tonnage processed is attributed to a four percent increase in throughput as a result of the second mill speed increase and a four percent improvement in running time, attributable to improved maintenance.
“The average feed was one percent higher at 1.91 grammes per tonne from 1.89 grammes per tonne in third quarter. Stope preparation that had affected third quarter was completed and grades improved in the main stopes, as anticipated,” it said.
The company said as a result a combination of improved milled tonnes and feed grade saw gold production rising by two percent to 13,380 ounces compared to 13,072 ounces in the previous quarter.
The Tailings Retreatment Project pilot plant commissioning at the mine is continuing.
Mwana Africa said the new transformer for the section had to be returned to the manufacturers for repairs while the agitator drives design has been revisited and upgraded drives were expected during the quarter.
At BNC, nickel in concentrate sales of 2,207 tonnes from Trojan were achieved during the period under review, representing a 9.5 percent increase of compared to the previous quarter.
“All-in sustaining cash costs increased from $11,819 per tonne to $12,220 a tonne as a result of the continued production ramp-up and shaft re-deepening. One hundred percent of production was sold during the period, with a 1.5 percent increase in the average nickel price received to $14,075 tonnes attained,” it said.
Mwana Africa’s chief executive officer Kalaa Mpinga said:
“I am pleased to be able to report generally improved operating performance across the group’s operations during the fourth and final quarter of the 2013 financial year. Both gold and nickel production increased, reflecting higher tonnage mined and milled…
“We anticipate that at Freda Rebecca, the current focus on mining and processing efficiencies, and at BNC continued progress by Trojan Mine towards steady-state and stronger mill performance, will deliver further operational improvements for the group in the year ahead.”
derick.khumalo