Total PGM production from own-managed mines decreased by 3% to 587,200 oz (platinum production decreased by 4% to 265,400 oz, while palladium production decreased by 2% to 211,500 oz) 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.
PGM production at Mogalakwena decreased by 6% to 259,300 ounces (platinum decreased by 8% to 107,600 and palladium production decreased by 5%, to 121,400 oz). Tonnes milled increased by 2%, as the North concentrator maintenance continued into Q3 2022, resulting in the planned South concentrator maintenance being postponed to Q3,2023.
This was offset by a 7% reduction in 4E built-up head grade to 2.84 g/t from 3.05 g/t, due to a delay in accessing the higher-grade South pits due to community protests.
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PGM production from Amandelbult decreased by 12% to 192,600 oz (platinum production decreased by 12% to 96,500 oz and palladium production decreased by 13% to 44,800 oz), largely due to the closure of Tumela Upper conventional infrastructures that reached end of life in December 2021, as well as the impact from Eskom power outages.
Mototolo PGM production increased by 9% to 75,400 oz (platinum production increased by 7% to 34,500 oz and palladium increased by 10% to 22,000 ounces), largely due to an improvement in ground conditions which resulted in a 5% increase in 4E built-up head grade to 3.39 g/t, as well as increased stability following the ramp-up of the concentrator debottlenecking project.
Unki PGM production increased by 41% to 59,900 oz (platinum production increased by 41% to 26,800 oz and palladium production increased by 40% to 23,300 oz). The concentrator debottlenecking project was completed in Q4,2021, increasing concentrator capacity from 180 ktpm to 210 ktpm. This led to a 39% increase in tonnes milled.
Natascha Viljoen, CEO of Anglo American Platinum, said:
“Our commitment to eliminate fatalities from our workplace continues to help us keep our people safe. We had no work-related fatalities at our own-managed operations in the period.
“Despite this progress, and our extensive work across all operations to protect the safety of our colleagues, we saw our total recordable case injury frequency rate (TRCFR) increase by 4% to 2.35 per million hours worked. The focus on reversing this trend is the focus of every leader in this organisation.
“Total PGM production was 6% lower compared to the prior period, but in line with Q2,2022. We embedded stability at Unki and Mototolo, following their successful completion of the concentrator debottlenecking projects, which saw Unki increasing production by 41% and Mototolo by 9%.
“We also increased tonnes milled at Mogalakwena, however this was more than offset by a 7% reduction in grade. This grade reduction was due to a delay in accessing the higher-grade South pits from Q3 to Q4, and we have been mining these higher-grade areas since September.
“Amandelbult production was down 12%, largely due to the infrastructure closures at Tumela Upper at the end of 2021, and Eskom power outages.
“Refined production of 994,800 PGM oz was lower as expected, due to the planned rebuild of the Polokwane smelter, its first full rebuild in twelve years to ensure asset reliability over the long term.
“Sales volumes of 933,500 declined in line with refined production. Sales volumes for the quarter were planned to be lower than refined production, as part of our risk mitigation plans during the Polokwane smelter rebuild.
“Eskom power outages have affected both concentrators and smelters, resulting in a loss in production, as well as a build-up in work-in-progress inventory of 40,400 PGM oz.
“We maintain our guidance for 2022 and are carefully monitoring the continued impact of power outages on our operations as we progress through Q4.”
