Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) has reported a 7.7% increase in platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and gold metals-in-concentrate production to 124 000 oz for the first quarter of 2022.
It said total tonnes milled for the period under review rose by 8.7% to 1.1-million tonnes.
The production of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold (4E) metals-in-concentrate jumped 7.5% to 110 600 oz, while the overall concentrator recovery dropped by 0.2% to 80.93%, in line with the reduction in built-up head grade and variations in ore mix.
It said the built-up head grade fell by 1% year-on-year to 3.79 g/t gold, due to increased dilution currently being experienced, mostly in the Merensky reef mining sections of the Styldrift mine.
Meanwhile, RBPlat said its total cash operating costs increased by 21.7% to R2 billion for the reporting period compared to 2021.
The increase in expenditure was due to increased production and industry-related inflation.
Overall unit cash cost per tonne milled and 4E ounce increased by 12% and 13.2% to R1 807 and R18 282, respectively.
Total capital expenditure for the quarter increased by 4.2% to R335.1 million compared to the comparative 2021 period.
Expansion capital expenditure was reduced by 43.4% to R66 million in line with project progress at the Maseve concentrator MF2 upgrade, the BRPM tailings storage facility expansion and Styldrift.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, in Zimbabwe, Rough&Polished
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