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Quarterly Review And Production Report For The Period 1 July To 30 September 2012
ROYAL BAFOKENG PLATINUM LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 2008/015696/06)
JSE share code: RBP ISIN: ZAE000149936
(“RBPlat” or the “company”)
RBPLAT QUARTERLY REVIEW AND PRODUCTION REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1 JULY TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2012
Third quarter safety, production and financial highlights:
- 1 million fatality-free shifts
- Tonnes milled in line with Q2 at 621 353 tonnes
- Production hampered by labour unrest - 43 262 tonnes not broken
- Transport sector unrest prevented delivery of 560 tonnes of concentrate
- Section 54 safety stoppages significantly lower
- Expansion and replacement projects on track and within budget
% Change
Q3 Q3 Q2 Q3 2012 Q3 2012
Description Unit
2012 2011 2012 vs. vs.
Q3 2011 Q2 2012
Safety
SIFR (/200,000 hrs) rate 0.44 0.38 0.21 -16% -110%
LTIFR (/200,000 hrs) rate 0.61 0.61 0.67 0% 8%
Production
Tonnes delivered to concentrators kt 654 621 658 5% -1%
Total tonnes milled kt 621 624 626 0% -1%
% UG2 of total tonnes milled % 18.8% 10.4% 15.3% -82% -23%
4E built-up head grade g/t 3.96 4.29 3.99 -8% -1%
4E Merensky built-up head grade g/t 4.10 4.38 4.09 -7% 0%
4E UG2 built-up head grade g/t 3.38 3.51 3.45 -4% -2%
Metals in concentrate produced
4E koz 68.7 75.2 69.6 -9% -1%
Platinum koz 44.5 48.9 45.0 -9% -1%
Palladium koz 18.3 19.8 18.6 -8% -2%
Rhodium koz 3.6 3.8 3.8 -5% -6%
Gold koz 2.3 2.7 2.2 -15% 4%
Nickel t 470 568 476 -17% -1%
Copper t 299 353 296 -15% 1%
Cash operating costs
Operating cash cost / tonne milled R/t 872 753 832 -16% -5%
Operating cash cost / 4E oz M&C R/oz 7 895 6 246 7 485 -26% -5%
Operating cash cost / Pt oz M&C R/oz 12 178 9 608 11 570 -27% -5%
Capital expenditure
Total capital R'm 375.5 246.4 279.4 -52% -34%
Expansion R'm 231.2 132.0 127.5 -75% -81%
Replacement R'm 71.7 104.2 80.1 31% 10%
Stay-in-business (SIB) R'm 72.5 10.2 71.8 -609% -1%
SIB / operating cost % % 13% 2% 14% -514% 3%
SAFETY
Against the backdrop of labour unrest the third quarter was a challenging period particularly with respect to keeping
safety at the forefront of our employees’ minds. This is evidenced by a 16% increase in our serious injury frequency
rate year-on-year. Despite this BRPM achieved 1 million fatality-free shifts during August and our safety performance
during September continued to improve. We are pleased that safety performance at Styldrift in particular has
demonstrated on-going improvement recording just three injuries during the quarter, one of which was classified as a
serious injury.
PRODUCTION
During August a group of employees gathered and presented a verbal demand that rock drill operators must be paid
nd th
R12 500. This group of employees then embarked on an unprotected strike from the 22 to the 24 of August but
returned to work after an agreement was reached that discussions in respect of issues unrelated to the current wage
agreement would continue within existing employee relations structures but that the wage agreement would not be
reopened. On 12 September a small number of employees again embarked on an unprotected strike and actively
prevented other employees from reporting to work. Decisive action by management assisted by the police brought the
situation under control, albeit with continued sporadic incidents aimed at disrupting operations. In the process some
employees who failed to heed numerous ultimatums to return to work have been dismissed.
Total tonnes delivered to concentrators were in line with the second quarter of 2012 notwithstanding the 43 262
tonnes lost as a result of labour unrest. We were able to augment tonnes delivered to the concentrator from vamping
and sweeping operations. The impact of section 54 safety stoppages was also significantly reduced from the 25 812
tonnes lost in the second quarter to just 1 008 tonnes in the third quarter.
We continued to progress our on-going strategy to increase immediately stopeable reserves (IMS) and optimise
production volumes. This has resulted in the underground operation delivering above the treatment plant capabilities
and an increase of our surface stockpiles by 51% to 97 057 tonnes from 64 273 tonnes at the end of the second
quarter. This stockpile provides a buffer against stoppages.
Tonnes milled remained consistent year-on-year but the UG2 ratio has increased by 82% resulting in a lower 4E built-
up head grade being treated. An ore blending facility is currently being commissioned to improve the blending
capabilities of the concentrator.
In total 4E ounces-in-concentrate declined by 9% during the period under review compared with the corresponding
quarter in 2011. This was attributable to:
- 560 tonnes of concentrate (2.3 koz 4E) not dispatched as a result of the transport strike; and
- an 8% reduction in the 4E built-up head grade mainly due to the increase in UG2 contribution and stoping
dilution. Continued remedial focus is being placed on reducing dilution.
CASH OPERATING COSTS
The cash operating cost per platinum ounce-in-concentrate produced increased by 5.3% to R12 178 compared with
the second quarter of 2012 and 27% year-on-year.
Key contributing factors were:
- 2.3 koz 4E not dispatched as a result of the transport strike
- additional external security required as a result of the industrial action;
- Eskom tariff increases from April 2012 and higher winter power rates;
- above inflation annual salary and wage increases;
- increased water tariffs as of July 2012; and
- the built-up head grades which were 8% lower year-on-year as a result of the increasing UG2 ratio.
The primary cost reduction strategy continues to be the improvement of efficiencies and the optimisation of production
volumes whilst bringing identified cost saving initiatives to fruition.
CAPITAL
Capital expenditure was 52% higher for the period under review. This is attributed to the Styldrift project being under
full execution status including sinking operations, compared to 2011 when site preparation and establishment was the
primary focus with shaft sinking ramping up. Replacement capital is 31% lower year-on-year as the Phase II project
has reached completion. The increase in SIB capital continued to be largely attributable to the North shaft chairlift
project, tailings line replacement for the concentrator and the IT migration project.
PROJECTS
Styldrift I Project (expansion)
In August 2012 we reached an important milestone as we intersected Merensky Reef at the Main shaft with the shaft
reaching 600m level. The station bulk excavation has been completed along with 27.5m of lateral development. The
Service shaft progressed to a depth of 574.2m and a total of 252.2m was sunk during the quarter at both shafts.
Capital expenditure for the quarter was R223 million with a forecast expenditure for the 2012 year of R694 million. At
the end of the quarter the project-to-date commitment was R2,21 billion and expenditure was R1,71 billion.
The project remains on schedule and is 34% complete.
BRPM Phase II Project (replacement)
The Phase II replacement project being the extension of the decline system and associated infrastructure from level 6
down to level 10 at both North and South shafts has achieved physical completion with the final commissioning of the
South shaft pump station due to take place by the end of October 2012.
Capital expenditure for the quarter was R28 million. The project-to-date commitment was R2,27 billion with
expenditure of R2,24 billion.
BRPM Phase III Project (replacement)
The Phase III replacement project which includes extending the decline system and associated infrastructure from 11
level to 15 level at North shaft, is progressing ahead of schedule and remains under budget. The total development for
the project is 558m ahead of schedule at a total of 3 449m against a target of 2 891m.
Capital expenditure for the quarter was R43 million. The project-to-date commitment is R455 million with expenditure
of R351 million to date. The overall project is 36% complete.
NOTE
The financial information in this quarterly review and production report has not been reviewed or reported on by
RBPlat’s auditors.
Fourways, Johannesburg
23 October 2012
JSE Sponsor
Macquarie First South Capital (Pty) Limited
For further information, please contact:
Lindiwe Montshiwagae: Investor Relations Manager
Tel: +27 (0) 10 590 4517
Email: lindiwe@bafokengplatinum.co.za
Date: 23/10/2012 08:30:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
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