Amandelbult Section
Location:
South Africa, Limpopo
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Property NewsJanuary 23, 2008 Anglo Platinum announces that a major storm has affected operations at its Amandelbult mine, South Africa, resulting in several underground working areas being inundated by flood water. As a result, current production at Amandelbult is running at approximately 25% of normal output. Current estimates, based on the water level at 14:00 on 23 January 2008, indicate that measures necessary to return to full production will take between 9 and 12 weeks.
Anglo Platinum's current best estimate of the reduction in refined platinum production in 2008 from Amandelbult is between 50 000 and 70 000 ounces. December 31, 2005 Equivalent refined platinum production of 556 400 ounces was 35 300 ounces or
6,0% lower than in 2004. The mine continued with efforts to reverse the impact of the Transition Zone ore type at the No. 1 shaft, as well as the disturbed ground conditions at No.2 shaft. Planning is well advanced and includes down dip vertical shaft access, for which a significant seismic survey and drilling programme commenced during the year. Further progress underground was made in breaching the Transition Zone on the western boundary as well as on preparations for increased UG2 delivery in 2006. Performance in the second half of the year improved over the first half, indicative of progress made with the planned turnaround.
In 2004, ERP production decreased 8.2% from 644,700 ounces in 2003 to 591,700 ounces in 2004. Difficult geological conditions at No. 2 Shaft were greater than anticipated and the volumes required to replace declining production from No.1 Shaft were not achieved. Open-cast (pit) production decreased with the depletion of the resource and the October wage strike had a negative impact. In response, the company has accelerated development to replace ore reserves.
In 2003, the mine focused on optimizing its new UG2 mechanized sections and improving its ore reserves. Difficult geology led to lower production from the Merensky operations during the year at No. 2 Shaft, owing to the lack of mineable face length and to poor ground conditions. The shortfall was offset by the mining of additional conventional UG2 ore at Elandskuil, the optimization of opencast grade control, and additional UG2 opencast
production.
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