(Kitco News) - South African platinum groupmetals producer Royal Bafokeng Platinum (JSE: RBP) announced today that notwithstandingthe ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the protracted third wave,which reached its peak during July, the companyachieved record 4E ounce production of 127koz in Q3 2021.
The company said that thisrecord production has been underpinned by steady BRPM performance and animproved Styldrift performance, marginally offset by lower grades andconcentrator recoveries.
"The combination of increasedmilled volumes, lower built-up head grade and associated reduction inrecoveries achieved during the quarter, yielded a 4E metals in concentrateincrease of 2.0% to 127koz. 4E metals in concentrate for the year to dateincreased by 15.0% to 342.8koz compared to 2020," the company noted in itsstatement.
The company added that itsguidance for the full year remains unchanged, with 4E ounce production expectedto be between 475koz and 485koz for the year.
RBPlat mines platinum groupmetals in the Merensky and UG2 reefs on the Boschkoppie, Styldrift andFrischgewaagd farms in the Rustenburg area, South Africa, which have beenidentified as hosting the last undeveloped Merensky reef on the Western limb ofthe Bushveld complex. RBPlat's assets are the only known significant shallowhigh grade Merensky resources and reserves still available for mining in SouthAfrica.
By Vladimir BasovFor Kitco News
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