[miningmx.com] — HARMONY Gold said on Friday its gold production for 2012’s first quarter was 18% lower than the period to end-December.
The miner attributed this to the following factors:
– The festive season and public holiday disruptions associated with the March quarter;
– Safety stoppages;
– Shifts lost due to the one day protected strike of the Congress of South African Trade Unions;
– Heavy rains in Papua New Guinea impacted gold production at Hidden
Valley negatively;
– The upgrade of the infrastructure at Doornkop;
– Lower than expected grades at Tshepong, Masimong, Unisel and Joel contributed to a 12% decline in underground grade.
“The March quarter is not in line with our expectations. Safety stoppages
indicate that we need to do even more to ensure a safer working environment
for our employees at all times,” said Harmony CEO Graham Briggs.
“Harmony has made significant strides in improving its safety. However, the attention that safety receives reminds all involved – management, employees, unions and government – that safety remains a joint responsibility and we need to find solutions in a co-operative and constructive manner.
“We have conducted a gap analysis to establish where we need to do more and have already put actions in place to address these. The grade performance was not in line with our plans and we simply have to work harder at meeting our targets.”
