[miningmx.com] — Palabora Mining said on Tuesday its iron ore output in the first quarter to the end of March fell eight percent hit by equipment slowdowns.
“Daily ore hoisted from the underground mine averaged 28 903 tonnes for the quarter ended 31 March 2011, 8% lower than the previous quarter and the corresponding period in 2010,” the company, part of Rio Tinto’s global stable, said in a statement.
It said ore hoisting rates or output were expected to improve in May when one of its winder drums is replaced and commissioned. Hoists or winders are generally used to raise and lower conveyances within mine shafts.
It said first quarter copper production fell 10% to 58.4 kt (thousand tonnes).
“Refined copper production was 14.8kt and in line with anode supply but 15 percent lower than the previous quarter due to utilisation of inventory in the previous quarter,” it said.
