RBPlats to shut mill for ‘two to three weeks’

[miningmx.com] – ROYAL Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) said it would stockpile up to 145,000 tonnes of platinum-bearing ore whilst it fixed a mill at its concentrator on the 180,000 platinum ounce a year Bafokeng-Rasimone mine.

The repairs, expected to cost R4.5m over some two to three weeks, would be to a mill discharge end which had been identified as problematic after a routine inspection at the mine, the company said.

“Subsequent investigation revealed erosion of the trunnion by more than 50%,” the company said.

It added that it had completed temporary repairs and whilst there had been no further deterioration, the damage required a replacement of the mill end.

Depending on the duration of the concentrator shutdown, between 96,000 and 145,000 tonnes of Merensky ore will be stockpiled ahead of the concentrator during this period, which stocks are expected to be depleted by the end of December 2013,” the company said.

In a separate announcement, RBPlat said interim headline share earnings would come in at between 83 cents to 92c/share – roughly double interim share earnings recorded in the previous financial year.

This was owing to a higher realised revenue basket prices, sustained production, and cost containment during the first half of 2013. RBPlat said it expected to release its interim results on or about August 12.