mining Weekly28 Jun 2011 14:18
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) − Ferrochrome producer International Ferro Metals (IFM) will shut down its second furnace for roof upgrades at the beginning of next month, to complete part of the work on its two furnaces concurrently, rather than sequentially, the London-listed company said on Tuesday.
This would minimise power consumption at a time of seasonally high-cost electricity, said IFM, which operates an integrated chrome mine and ferrochrome processing operation near Rustenburg in South Africa.
The first furnace was shut down on June 1 to start the rectification work. The new roof has arrived on site and installation would be completed by the end of July. The furnace would be back in production at the beginning of August and full production would be achieved from September.
The roof of the second furnace would be installed towards the end of August and full production would be reached by October.
As a result of the roof rebuild, ferrochrome production in the September quarter would be between 27 000 t and 31 000 t, IFM said in an operations update ahead of CEO-designate Christiaan Jordaan’s meetings with investors this week.
The rectification and upgrade, at R40-million a furnace, should allow the furnaces to achieve the production levels that they were originally designed to achieve.
NEW CHROME MINE OPERATIONAL
Meanwhile, IFM reported that it had started openpit mining operations at its new Sky Chrome mine, which would replace the Lesedi mine’s openpit production.
It was currently stockpiling run-of-mine ore production and expected to deliver first ore to the plant in early July.
Excluding the mining contractors, Sky Chrome would provide employment in its mining operations for 100 people from the surrounding communities, of which 80 people have already been appointed.
An additional 100 people from the surrounding communities are to be employed over the next three to six months for an agricultural project adjacent to the mining operations.
The 12-million ton Sky Chrome, which is held 80% by IFM and 20% by a near-mine community, would produce at a rate of 100 000 t/m of openpit material from January.
IFM also said that the construction of an UG2 chrome retreatment plant at Anglo Platinum’s operations was on schedule to be commissioned in September. The first feed of chrome concentrate is expected in January.
Sign In
Follow the stocks
