[miningmx.com] –COPPER mining company Palabora Mining, which operates South Africa’s largest copper mine, has reported a 5.4% drop in copper concentrates produced in 2009.
Releasing its fourth quarter operations overview and production statistics, the company said it produced 270 800 tonnes in 2009 compared to 286 500 tonnes in
2008.
Daily production from the underground mine averaged 28 090 tonnes for the quarter to end December 2009, which was 13% lower than the previous quarter and 14% lower than the corresponding period in 2008.
Production was reduced by approximately 15% for the period November 25 to December 15 2009 due to the outage of the North Winder.
In total, 11.5 million tonnes of ore were hoisted during the year with a copper grade
of 0.67%.
Overall 2009 mine production was slightly lower at 2.5% compared with those of 2008 hoisting 11 830 413 tonnes at a grade of 0.69% with ore treated relatively unchanged at 0.6% sequentially but 9% lower year on year due to suspension of marginal ore processing.
Fourth quarter copper concentrate production was 6% higher sequentially due to improved automills availability but 1.4% lower than the corresponding period in 2008 mainly due to the lower proportion of low grade concentrate reclaimed.
The copper in concentrate production was 4% higher than the previous quarter due
to a combination of better head grade and improved recovery.
New concentrate smelted increased by 15% sequentially due to lesser impact of annual statutory boiler maintenance on reverbratory furnace feed rates than in the previous quarter, as well as better converter availability.
New anode produced increased by a lesser percentage during the quarter due to a lower proportion of high grade import concentrate and a lower overall grade of Palabora concentrate.
The reduction in total new anode production from 2008 is mainly due to a lower furnace feed grade from lower imports, more statutory and scheduled maintenance in the second half of 2009 and lower converter reliability in the first half.
Magnetite production was 8% lower sequentially mainly due to 46% less lower grade magnetite being available for sale which has been attributed to the intersection of a higher than anticipated phreatic surface.
The magnetite year-on-year production increased by 46% due to a 23% increase in Palabora’s existing magnetite products and a 36% increase realised by reclamation of lower grade magnetite from the stockpiles.
Copper sold as concentrate was erroneously reported at 9 100 tonnes in the second quarter and has been restated and correctly reported at 2 100 while vermiculite production was consistent with the previous quarter and when compared with the corresponding period in 2008.
