daniel chigunwe
Business Writer
Platinum group metals (PGM) production at Unki Mine increased 3 percent to 62 000 ounces in the quarter to September 30, 2024 compared to 60 500 ounces during the same quarter last year driven by higher throughput.
PGM production at Unki has largely been driven by the debottlenecking project, which was completed in 2021 and was done at a cost of US$48 million, with the expansion targeted to increase throughput capacity.
Unki, 100 percent owned by Anglo Platinum America, has its operations on the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe, 60km south-east of the town of Gweru.
Anglo-Platinum America, in its quarterly update for the period to September 2024, said platinum production increased by three percent to 28 100 ounces compared to 27 300 ounces achieved during same period in 2023.
Tonnes milled at Unki during the quarter under review were 12 percent up at 687 000 tonnes from 615 000 tonnes in prior year comparable.
4E head grade for the quarter was 7 percent lower at 3,30 grammes per tonne from 3,54 g/t in prior year.
Craig Miller, chief executive of Anglo-American Platinum, commenting on the group production update, said the decrease in total PGM production of 10 percent for the quarter was mainly due to the breakdown at the primary mill at the Mogalakwena North Concentrator on 1 July.
He said that resulted in a four-week downtime and a loss of 45,000 ounces, although partly offset by improved performance at the South Concentrator.
“The other main driver was the self-imposed safety stoppages at Amandelbult, which resulted in a loss of 20,000 ounces following the two tragic fatalities in June, while the transition of the Kroondal volumes to a 4E toll arrangement effective 1 September also played a role,” he said.
Miller said 2024 guidance for metal-in-concentrate PGM production guidance remains at 3.3–3.72 million ounces.
“We are revising our refined production guidance up to 3.7-3.9 million ounces from the previous 3.3-3.7 million ounces, assuming no Eskom load-curtailment.
“This adjustment reflects the strong and stable performance of our processing assets, which allowed us to release built-up work-in-progress inventory in addition to no Eskom load-curtailment year-to-date,” he said.
He noted the company is on track to deliver on its cost reduction programme.
Bongani Ndlovu