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5 Nov 2008 14:32
SENS AND MEDIA RELEASE
Anglo Platinum Confirms Polokwane Smelter Shutdown
5 November 2008
Anglo Platinum announces that a furnace run-out occurred just after 08:00 this morning, Wednesday 5 November 2008, at its Polokwane smelter in Limpopo province.
The run out resulted in matte coming into contact with residual rain water in the emergency run out bunds resulting in a significant release of steam and smoke visible in the surrounding vicinity. All emergency procedures, including actions to safeguard all site personnel, were successfully implemented and no one was injured.
The smelter has been shut down and a preliminary investigation has been completed. The run out was caused by a failure on the furnace matte end wall which will need to be replaced. This repair is likely to take approximately 6 weeks to complete. While the extent of the damage to the furnace has yet to be fully quantified early indications are that any associated remedial repair is unlikely to take longer than the primary repair.
Due to the significant amount of concentrate stocks already accumulated during 2008 Anglo Platinum's smelting and refining capacity remains fully utilized and losses associated with this shut down will not be recovered during 2008. Concentrate accumulated during the shut down should be released as refined metal during the first half of 2009.
As a result of the shut down it is currently estimated that Anglo Platinum's output of refined platinum in 2008 will reduce by approximately 150 000 to 200 000 ounces.
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