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• 2010

Output set to rise at Anooraq mine

22 June 2010

Source: Business Day

PLATINUM exploration company Anooraq Resources yesterday said that it expected an increase of not less than 15% in second-quarter production at its flagship Bokoni Platinum mines.

Releasing an operational update for Bokoni, Anooraq said increased production volumes and decreased unit costs at the operations were a result of the implementation of a significant labour restructure at the mines during the first quarter of this financial year.

The labour restructure focused primarily on improving the balance at the Bokoni operation to ensure that more employees were placed in revenue- generating activities, as opposed to mine support services.

Previously known as Lebowa Platinum mines, Bokoni is located in the Bushveld Complex in the North West.

“As anticipated, production volumes are beginning to increase, with a steady upward trend in month-on-month production from April onwards,” the company said.

Subsequent to the labour restructure, vamping operations had also commenced at Bokoni. Production from vamping activities should increase to about 6000 tons a month by December this year.

Anooraq said that production at the new Brakfontein Merensky shaft had started to increase.

The company expects that production volumes from the shaft will increase by 100% from its first quarter production base — to 30000 tons a month by the end of the fourth quarter.

At steady-state production, the Brakfontein operation will produce at 120000 tons a month.

Meanwhile, improving production at the operations has resulted in a continued reduction in unit costs and management is confident that the company will meet its first cost-cutting target of R905 a ton milled this month.

“We are pleased that the benefits of the labour restructure are starting to demonstrate positive results at the operations, both in volume growth and unit cost reductions,” said Anooraq CEO Philip Kotze.