JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Regardless of elevated world geopolitical tensions, strong demand for platinum group metals (PGMs) has been accompanied by sustained useful pricing assist within the three months ending March 31, Implats CEO Nico Muller reported on April 24.
The third-quarter manufacturing outcomes mirror sturdy working momentum at a number of key mining belongings and processing belongings delivering properly to scale back extra stock.
“We stay firmly on monitor to ship our beforehand supplied group quantity, unit value and capital expenditure steerage for our 2026 monetary 12 months.
“We’re intently monitoring the influence of occasions within the Center East on our provide chains, with steps taken to buffer availability of essential consumables and spares at our operations.
“We stay targeted on delivering constant and protected manufacturing – making certain our means to capitalise on sturdy rand PGM pricing, maximise free money move era and ship worth,” Muller reported in a media launch to Mining Weekly.
For the 9 months to March 31, six-element (6E) group manufacturing volumes have been steady at 2.56-million ounces.
Managed volumes had been largely unchanged at two-million ounces, three way partnership manufacturing decreased 2% to 395 000 ozand third-party receipts had been a 16%-higher 167 000 oz.
Implats, in emphasising that it’s decided to eradicate fatalities and life-changing accidents, expressed deep remorse that Monnawapula Joshua Sikhomba and Karabo Edward Pitse had been fatally injured in incidents at Impala Rustenburg.
Group lost-time harm frequency charge improved by 27% to 2.83 per million person-hours labored from 3.89, whereas the total-injury frequency charge improved by 37% to five.68 per million person-hours labored.
6E manufacturing was steady at 762 000 ozand tonnes milled at managed operations elevated by 10% to six.49-million tonnes on a milled grade of three.75g/t. However the enhancements in mined and milled volumes, 6E manufacturing at managed operations retraced by 3% to 588 000 ozbut rose at JVs to a 1%-higher 122 000 oz.
At Impala Refining Companies, third-party 6E receipts had been 27% increased at 52 000 ozand refined 6E manufacturing a 19%-higher 851 000 oz.
The primary matte was produced on the Furnace 4 rebuild in mid-April.
The interval ended with 320 000 6E ounces of extra stock, with 6E gross sales volumes growing by 9% to 847 000 oz.
Group manufacturing benefitted from improved working momentum at Impala Rustenburg and Zimplats, which offset modifications in working parameters at Marula and Impala Canada, with milled throughput on the North American operation lowering 4% to 680 000 t, milled head grade declining 9% to 2.85g/t, and 6E focus manufacturing dropping 13% to 52 000 oz.
