GreenRoc Accelerates their World Class Project to Production as Early as 2028. Watch the full video here.

Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksLonmin Regulatory News (LMI)

  • There is currently no data for LMI

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

Fourth Quarter 2016 Production Report

14 Nov 2016 07:00

RNS Number : 0372P
Lonmin PLC
14 November 2016
 

 

14 November 2016

Fourth Quarter 2016 Production Report

 

Lonmin Plc ("Lonmin" or "the Company"), one of the world's largest primary platinum producers, today announces its production results for the quarter ended 30 September 2016. Lonmin also publishes today, in a separate announcement, its final results for the year ended 30 September 2016.

 

Safety

· Our safety strategy is centred on the belief that Zero Harm is achievable and important contributions are required from all stakeholders to achieve it.

 

· The twelve month rolling LTIFR to 30 September improved by 8.1% to 4.97 per million man hours from 5.41 in the prior year.

 

· K3 shaft achieved 6 million fatality free shifts.

· 4B shaft achieved 10 million fatality free shifts and won the JT Ryan Safety Award for the fourth consecutive year.

· Saffy shaft achieved 3 million fatality free shifts on 13 April 2016.

· We remain focused on addressing the root causes of safety incidents, and ensuring that lessons learnt from each incident are implemented into action plans and shared across operations.

 

· We have been encouraged that our collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), continues to yield results, as we have experienced decreasing Section 54 stoppages in the quarter.

 

Mining Operations

The Marikana mining operations (including Pandora) produced 2.7 million tonnes during the quarter as planned, a decrease of 10.1% or 298,000 tonnes on the prior year period, reflecting the planned decrease in production from the Generation 1 shafts in line with our strategy to reduce high cost production in a low price environment.

 

Generation 2 shafts

Production from our core Generation 2 shafts (K3, Rowland, Saffy and 4B/1B) was 2.1 million tonnes, broadly flat on the fourth quarter of 2015 production of 2.2 million tonnes and accounted for 80% of total tonnes mined, emphasizing our continued focus on these core shafts. Productivity at our Generation 2 shafts at 6.1 square metres per mining employee for the quarter improved by 1.6% on the fourth quarter of 2015. The improved productivity and reduced Section 54 stoppages were offset by the decrease in tonnes from K3 shaft.

· Saffy shaft produced 547,000 tonnes, an increase of 10.6% on the fourth quarter of 2015 as this shaft is now running at full production and continues to perform well.

· Rowland shaft produced 487,000 tonnes, an increase of 3.5% on the fourth quarter of 2015.

· 4B/1B shaft produced 397,000 tonnes, a decrease of 41,000 tonnes or 9.4% on the fourth quarter of 2015, as a result of the planned closure of 1B shaft in October 2015. Excluding the 59,000 tonnes produced by 1B in the fourth quarter of 2015, 4B production increased by 4.8%.

· K3 shaft produced 708,000 tonnes, a decrease of 8.4% on the fourth quarter of 2015. The decrease is due to the slow build-up of stoping crews due to restructuring and geological challenges in the split reef area.

 

Generation 1 shafts

In line with the Group's rationalisation of high cost ounces, production from our Generation 1 shafts (Hossy, Newman, W1, E1, E2, E3 and Pandora (100%)) at 485,000 tonnes was 32.5% lower than the fourth quarter of 2015. Some of these shafts are run by contractors, which provide better flexibility to retain or close them, depending on their profit contribution to the Company.

 

The Merensky opencast operations, which produced 59,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2015 ceased at the end of the financial year 2015. Mining of the U12 UG2 pit commenced in July 2016 and produced 39,000 for the quarter, but this is a very small resource and it is expected that mining will stop during the course of 2017.

 

Production Losses

Following ongoing and pro-active interactions with the Inspectorate of the DMR, and as shaft management develop a better understanding and working relationship with the Inspectorate and with the Union, we are experiencing a reduction in the duration and frequency of Section 54 stoppages and more localised application of the stoppages. A total of some 95,000 tonnes of production was lost in the quarter due to Section 54 safety stoppages and management induced safety stoppages compared to 297,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

 

Q4 2016

Tonnes

Q4 2015

Tonnes

Section 54 safety stoppages

82,000

281,000

Management induced safety stoppages and other

13,000

16,000

Total tonnes lost

95,000

297,000

 

Process Operations

Milling production in the quarter of 2.8 million tonnes was affected by lower than planned ore availability from the mining operations and was higher than tonnes mined of 2.7 million tonnes due to available above ground ore stocks, but 5.3% lower than in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

Underground milled head grade at 4.59 grammes per tonnes (5PGE+Au) increased by 2.6% when compared to the 4.47 grammes per tonne achieved in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the overall milled head grade was 4.59 grammes per tonne, up 3.2% on the prior year period due to improved ore mix and also improved mining head grades.

 

Platinum production (Metals-in-Concentrate) was 182,612 ounces, which was 1.6% lower than the fourth quarter of 2015 notwithstanding the lower milled volumes of 5.3%, due to the higher mill head grade. The Metals-in-Concentrate were only 2.6% lower than the fourth quarter of 2015 due to the higher grade and ore mix.

 

Concentrator recoveries in the quarter were 86.0%, marginally down from 86.4% in the fourth quarter of 2015, due to the milling of opencast UG2 ore.

 

Total refined Platinum production at 219,493 ounces was 14.3% lower than the fourth quarter of 2015, due to the release of built-up stock following the smelter outages but higher than the Metals-in-Concentrate of 182,612 Platinum ounces. Total PGMs produced were 424,613 ounces, a decrease of 14.2% on the fourth quarter of 2015, but higher than the Metals-in-Concentrate of 345,630 ounces. Refined production benefited from the smelter clean-up project, which released 36,881 Platinum ounces during the quarter. The smelter clean-up project is expected to continue into the first half of the 2017 financial year.

 

The Other Precious Metals Plant, which was commissioned in the first half of 2016, increased the production of Rhodium (released 7,021 ounces) and Iridium (released 5,318 ounces) due to a stock release arising from a reduction in the time to recover metals.

 

Sales & Pricing

Platinum sales for the quarter were 211,140 ounces, a decrease of 16.8% compared with the fourth quarter of 2015, when the refined production was extremely high due to the release of built-up stock following the smelter outages during 2015. PGM sales were 390,743 ounces, down 18.9% on the comparatively high the fourth quarter of 2015 sales.

 

The US Dollar basket price (including base metal revenue) at $902 per ounce during the quarter was up 12.0% on the fourth quarter of 2015 while the corresponding Rand basket price (R12,663 per ounce) was 22.5% higher than the prior year period, benefiting from the Rand weakness. The average Rand to US Dollar exchange rate was 8.2% weaker at 14.06 compared to 13.00 in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

Net cash at the end of the quarter increased to $173 million and total liquidity improved to $537 million.

- ENDS -

 

ENQUIRIES

 

Investors / Analysts:

Lonmin

Tanya Chikanza (Head of Investor Relations) +27 11 218 8358 /+44 207 201 6007

Andrew Mari (Investor Relations Manager) +27 11 218 8420

 

Media:

Wendy Tlou +27 83 301 9663

Cardew Group +44 207 930 0777

Anthony Cardew / Emma Crawshaw

 

Notes to editors

 

Lonmin, which is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, is one of the world's largest primary producers of PGMs. These metals are essential for many industrial applications, especially catalytic converters for internal combustion engine emissions, as well as their widespread use in jewellery.

 

Lonmin's operations are situated in the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, where around 80% of known global PGM resources are located.

 

The Company creates value through mining, refining and marketing PGMs and has a vertically integrated operational structure - from mine to market. Underpinning the operations is the Shared Services function which provides high quality levels of support and infrastructure across the operations.

 

For further information please visit our website: http://www.lonmin.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 months

3 months

 

12 months

12 months

 

 

 

 

 

to 30 Sep

to 30 Sep

 

to 30 Sep

to 30 Sep

 

 

 

 

 

2016

2015

 

2016

2015

Tonnes mined1

Marikana

 

 

 

K3 shaft

kt

 

708

773

 

2,687

2,713

Rowland shaft

kt

 

487

470

 

1,731

1,872

Saffy shaft

kt

 

547

495

 

2,055

1,758

4B/1B shaft

kt

 

397

380

 

1,588

1,409

 

Generation 2

kt

 

2,139

2,117

 

8,061

7,752

 

1B shaft

Kt

 

-

59

 

6

219

 

Hossy shaft

kt

 

191

224

 

712

953

 

Newman shaft

kt

 

56

174

 

346

765

W1 shaft

kt

 

34

45

 

162

180

East 1 shaft

kt

 

33

37

 

141

148

 

East 2 shaft

kt

 

66

98

 

293

390

 

East 3 shaft

kt

 

21

17

 

63

68

 

Pandora (100%)2

kt

 

83

124

 

471

544

 

Generation 1

kt

 

485

777

 

2,196

3,267

 

K4 shaft

kt

 

0

8

 

0

49

 

Generation 3

Kt

 

0

8

 

0

49

 

Underground

kt

 

2,624

2,902

 

10,256

11,067

 

Opencast

kt

 

39

59

 

49

230

Lonmin (100%)

Total tonnes mined (100%)

kt

 

2,663

2,961

 

10,305

11,297

 

% mined from UG2 reef (100%)

%

 

74.2%

74.1%

 

75.3%

75.1%

Lonmin (attributable)

Underground & opencast

kt

 

2,622

2,899

 

10,070

11,016

Ounces mined3 

Lonmin excl. Pandora

Platinum

oz

 

165,894

175,734

 

627,245

668,319

Pandora (100%)

Platinum

oz

 

5,852

8,178

 

32,509

36,458

Lonmin

Platinum

oz

 

171,746

183,912

 

659,754

704,776

Lonmin excl. Pandora

PGMs

oz

 

314,538

336,257

 

1,200,244

1,280,964

Pandora (100%)

PGMs

oz

 

11,539

16,087

 

63,857

71,861

Lonmin

PGMs

oz

 

326,077

352,344

 

1,264,101

1,352,825

Tonnes milled4

 

Marikana

Underground

kt

 

2,699

2,803

 

9,806

10,930

 

Opencast

kt

 

39

53

 

98

318

 

Total

kt

 

2,738

2,855

 

9,904

11,248

Pandora5

Underground

kt

 

83

124

 

471

562

Lonmin

Underground

kt

 

2,783

2,926

 

10,277

11,491

Platinum

Milled head grade6

g/t

 

4.59

4.47

 

4.60

4.51

 

 

Recovery rate7

%

 

86.3%

86.4%

 

86.7%

86.8%

Opencast

kt

 

39

53

 

98

318

 

Milled head grade6

g/t

 

4.81

3.07

 

3.59

3.08

 

Recovery rate7

%

 

64.3%

84.8%

 

73.6%

85.1%

 

Total

kt

 

2,821

2,979

 

10,375

11,810

 

Milled head grade6

g/t

 

4.59

4.45

 

4.59

4.47

 

Recovery rate7

%

 

86.0%

86.4%

 

86.6%

86.7%

 

 

 

 

3 months

3 months

 

12 months

12 months

 

to 30 Sep

to 30 Sep

 

to 30 Sep

to 30 Sep

 

2016

2015

 

2016

2015

Metals-in-concentrate10

Marikana

Platinum

oz

 

174,936

176,123

 

631,066

696,489

 

Palladium

oz

 

79,673

82,035

 

292,315

323,177

 

Gold

oz

 

4,253

4,271

 

15,206

16,503

 

Rhodium

oz

 

24,199

24,840

 

90,151

101,435

 

Ruthenium

oz

 

39,908

41,033

 

147,740

165,689

 

Iridium

oz

 

8,289

8,089

 

29,845

32,416

 

Total PGMs

oz

 

331,259

336,391

 

1,206,322

1,335,710

 

Nickel9

MT

 

889

961

 

3,169

3,579

 

Copper9

MT

 

547

591

 

1,949

2,211

Pandora

Platinum

oz

 

5,852

8,178

 

32,509

37,553

 

Palladium

oz

 

2,752

3,825

 

15,231

17,496

 

Gold

oz

 

16

30

 

95

131

 

Rhodium

oz

 

953

1,373

 

5,360

6,383

 

Ruthenium

oz

 

1,616

2,255

 

8,852

10,466

 

Iridium

oz

 

349

425

 

1,811

1,988

 

Total PGMs

oz

 

11,539

16,087

 

63,857

74,019

 

Nickel9

MT

 

15

24

 

93

87

 

Copper9

MT

 

6

9

 

32

37

Concentrate

Platinum

oz

 

1,824

1,357

 

5,129

6,273

purchases

Palladium

oz

 

472

376

 

1,555

1,869

 

Gold

oz

 

7

4

 

18

18

 

Rhodium

oz

 

158

174

 

565

816

 

Ruthenium

oz

 

299

240

 

919

1,079

 

Iridium

oz

 

73

77

 

242

338

 

Total PGMs

oz

 

2,833

2,228

 

8,429

10,394

 

Nickel9

MT

 

1

1

 

2

3

 

Copper9

MT

 

0

1

 

2

2

Lonmin Platinum

Platinum

oz

 

182,612

185,659

 

668,704

740,315

Palladium

oz

 

82,897

86,236

 

309,101

342,542

 

Gold

oz

 

4,275

4,305

 

15,319

16,653

 

Rhodium

oz

 

25,310

26,386

 

96,076

108,634

 

Ruthenium

oz

 

41,824

43,527

 

157,510

177,235

 

Iridium

oz

 

8,712

8,592

 

31,898

34,743

 

Total PGMs

oz

 

345,630

354,705

 

1,278,607

1,420,122

 

Nickel9

MT

 

905

985

 

3,265

3,669

 

Copper9

MT

 

552

600

 

1,983

2,250

 

 

 

 

3 months

3 months

 

12 months

12 months

 

to 30 Sep

to 30 Sep

 

to 30 Sep

to 30 Sep

 

2016

2015

 

2016

2015

Refined production

Lonmin refined metal production

Platinum

oz

 

21,9250

256,029

 

739,315

759,005

Palladium

oz

 

96,783

118,022

 

334,470

350,040

 

Gold

oz

 

5,483

5,934

 

19,596

18,232

 

Rhodium

oz

 

32,294

40,156

 

121,149

102,372

 

Ruthenium

oz

 

56,315

59,494

 

177,006

181,803

 

Iridium

oz

 

14,011

14,977

 

44,855

32,180

 

 

Total PGMs

oz

 

424,136

494,611

 

1,436,390

1,443,633

 

Toll refined metal production

Platinum

oz

 

243

193

 

2,575

689

 

Palladium

oz

 

114

94

 

713

280

 

Gold

oz

 

6

5

 

30

14

 

Rhodium

oz

 

37

33

 

207

95

 

Ruthenium

oz

 

58

68

 

698

2,093

 

Iridium

oz

 

19

17

 

110

560

 

Total PGMs

oz

 

477

411

 

4,333

3,731

 

Total refined PGMs

Platinum

oz

 

219,493

256,222

 

741,890

759,695

 

Palladium

oz

 

96,897

118,116

 

335,183

350,320

 

Gold

oz

 

5,489

5,939

 

19,626

18,246

 

Rhodium

oz

 

32,331

40,190

 

121,356

102,467

 

Ruthenium

oz

 

56,373

59,562

 

177,704

183,896

 

Iridium

oz

 

14,030

14,994

 

44,965

32,740

 

Total PGMs

oz

 

424,613

495,022

 

1,440,724

1,447,364

 

Base metals

Nickel10

MT

 

1,096

1,163

 

3,769

3,720

 

Copper10

MT

 

696

780

 

2,227

2,276

Sales

Refined metal sales

Platinum

oz

 

211,140

253,841

 

735,747

751,560

 

Palladium

oz

 

94,440

114,949

 

334,319

347,942

 

Gold

oz

 

5,890

7,589

 

20,735

19,199

 

Rhodium

oz

 

32,322

34,962

 

121,604

92,520

 

Ruthenium

oz

 

31,701

57,742

 

145,306

192,549

 

Iridium

oz

 

15,250

12,894

 

47,392

30,114

 

Total PGMs

oz

 

390,743

481,976

 

1,405,103

1,433,883

 

 

Nickel10

MT

 

1,249

1,380

 

3,773

3,656

 

 

Copper10

MT

 

624

945

 

2,265

2,131

 

 

Chrome10

MT

 

532,768

322,649

 

1,563,236

1,440,901

Average prices

Platinum 

$/oz

 

1,084

979

 

978

1,095

Palladium 

$/oz

 

674

612

 

589

718

Gold 

$/oz

 

1,478

1,478

 

1,425

1,487

Rhodium 

$/oz

 

636

805

 

671

998

$ basket excl. by-product revenue11

$/oz

 

850

761

 

753

849

$ basket incl. by-product revenue12

$/oz

 

902

805

 

796

902

R basket excl. by-product revenue11

R/oz

 

11,933

9,765

 

11,030

10,207

R basket incl. by-product revenue12

R/oz

 

12,663

10,336

 

11,637

10,829

Nickel10

$/MT

 

8,027

8,292

 

7,357

10,512

Copper10

$/MT

 

4,468

4,971

 

4,508

5,584

Exchange rates

Average rate for period13

R/$

 

14.06

13.00

 

14.77

12.01

Closing rate

R/$

 

13.71

13.83

 

13.71

13.83

 

 

Notes:

 

1 Reporting of shafts are in line with our operating strategy for Generation 1 and Generation 2 shafts.

2 Pandora underground tonnes mined represents 100% of the total tonnes mined on the Pandora joint venture of which 42.5% for October and November 2014 and 50% thereafter is attributable to Lonmin.

3 Limpopo underground tonnes mined represents low grade development tonnes mined whilst on care and maintenance.

4 Ounces mined have been calculated at achieved concentrator recoveries and with Lonmin standard downstream processing recoveries to present produced saleable ounces.

5 Tonnes milled excludes slag milling.

6 Lonmin purchases 100% of the ore produced by the Pandora joint venture for onward processing which is included in downstream operating statistics.

7 Limpopo tonnes milled represents low grade development tonnes milled.

8 Head grade is the grammes per tonne (5PGE + Au) value contained in the tonnes milled and fed into the concentrator from the mines (excludes slag milled).

9 Recovery rate in the concentrators is the total content produced divided by the total content milled (excluding slag).

10 Metals-in-concentrate have been calculated at Lonmin standard downstream processing recoveries to present produced saleable ounces.

11 Corresponds to contained base metals-in-concentrate.

12 Nickel is produced and sold as nickel sulphate crystals or solution and the volumes shown correspond to contained metal. Copper is produced as refined product but typically at LME grade C. Chrome is produced in the form of chromite concentrate and volumes shown are in the form of chromite.

13 Basket price of PGMs is based on the revenue generated in Rand and Dollar from the actual PGMs (5PGE + Au) sold in the period based on the appropriate Rand / Dollar exchange rate applicable for each sales transaction.

14 As per note 13 but including revenue from base metals.

15 Exchange rates are calculated using the market average daily closing rate over the course of the period.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
MSCZMMMMMFFGVZZ
Date   Source Headline
12th Jun 20192:46 pmBUSForm 8.3 - Lonmin
11th Jun 20193:36 pmBUSForm 8.3 - LONMIN AMENDMENT
11th Jun 201912:13 pmBUSForm 8.3 - LONMIN PLC
11th Jun 201911:35 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/RI)- Lonmin plc
10th Jun 20193:24 pmBUSForm 8.3 - Lonmin plc
10th Jun 20193:20 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin plc
10th Jun 20193:02 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin Plc
10th Jun 20193:00 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin PLC
10th Jun 20193:00 pmBUSForm 8.3 - LONMIN PLC
10th Jun 20192:00 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin Plc
10th Jun 20191:22 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin Plc
10th Jun 201912:45 pmBUSForm 8.3 - LONMIN PLC
10th Jun 201911:44 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/RI) - Lonmin plc
10th Jun 201911:40 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/NON-RI) - Sibanye Gold Ltd
10th Jun 201911:38 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/NON-RI) - Sibanye Gold Ltd
10th Jun 201911:37 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/RI) - Sibanye Gold Ltd
10th Jun 201911:30 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/RI) - Lonmin plc
10th Jun 20197:30 amRNSSuspension of Listing and Trading of Lonmin Shares
10th Jun 20197:00 amRNSScheme Becomes Effective
10th Jun 20197:00 amRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin plc
7th Jun 20193:17 pmBUSForm 8.3 - Lonmin plc
7th Jun 20193:16 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin Plc
7th Jun 20193:00 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin PLC
7th Jun 20192:41 pmBUSForm 8.3 - LONMIN PLC - AMENDMENT
7th Jun 20192:35 pmRNSLonmin Plc Details Tailings Storage Facilities
7th Jun 20192:03 pmEQSForm 8.3 - The Vanguard Group, Inc.: Lonmin plc
7th Jun 20191:33 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin Plc
7th Jun 201912:37 pmBUSForm 8.3 - LONMIN PLC
7th Jun 201912:05 pmRNSScheme Sanctioned by Court and Timetable
7th Jun 201911:50 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/RI) - Sibanye Gold Ltd replacement
7th Jun 201911:47 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/NON-RI) - Sibanye Gold Ltd
7th Jun 201911:46 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/RI) - Sibanye Gold Ltd
7th Jun 201911:43 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/RI) - Lonmin plc
7th Jun 201911:32 amRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin Plc
7th Jun 201910:49 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/RI)- Lonmin plc
7th Jun 201910:30 amGNWHSBC BANK PLC - Form 8.5 (EPT/RI) - Lonmin Plc
7th Jun 20197:00 amRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin plc
6th Jun 20193:21 pmBUSForm 8.3 - Lonmin plc
6th Jun 20193:15 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin Plc
6th Jun 20193:00 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin PLC
6th Jun 20192:39 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Sibanye Gold Limited
6th Jun 20192:26 pmEQSForm 8.3 - The Vanguard Group, Inc.: Lonmin plc
6th Jun 20191:09 pmRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin Plc
6th Jun 201912:18 pmBUSForm 8.3 - Lonmin plc
6th Jun 201911:36 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/NON-RI) - Sibanye Gold Ltd
6th Jun 201911:34 amGNWDimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. : Form 8.3 - Lonmin plc - Ordinary shares
6th Jun 201911:34 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/NON-RI) - Sibanye Gold Ltd
6th Jun 201911:33 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/RI) - Sibanye Gold Ltd
6th Jun 201911:22 amRNSForm 8.5 (EPT/RI)- Lonmin plc
6th Jun 201911:21 amRNSForm 8.3 - Lonmin Plc

Due to London Stock Exchange licensing terms, we stipulate that you must be a private investor. We apologise for the inconvenience.

To access our Live RNS you must confirm you are a private investor by using the button below.

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.

Quickpicks are a member only feature

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.