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EPS - Eastern Platinum Limited - Eastplats reports operating results for the

Release Date: 23/07/2010 08:22
Code(s): EPS
Wrap Text

EPS - Eastern Platinum Limited - Eastplats reports operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 EASTERN PLATINUM LIMITED (Incorporated in Canada) (Canadian Registration number BC0722783) (South African Registration number 2007/006318/10) Share Code TSX: ELR ISIN: CA 2768551038 Share Code AIM: ELR ISIN: CA 2768551038 Share Code JSE: EPS ISIN: CA 2768551038 July 23, 2010 Trading Symbol: ELR (TSX & AIM) EPS (JSE) S&P TSX Composite Index NEWS RELEASE EASTPLATS REPORTS OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2010 Mr. Ian Rozier, President and CEO of Eastern Platinum Limited ("Eastplats") is pleased to report operating results from the Crocodile River Mine ("CRM") for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010. Production statistics for the current quarter and historical quarters are as follows:
Quarter ended Production statistics Jun 30, Mar 31, Dec 31, Sept 30, Jun 30, 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 Ounces produced 30,820 30,531 34,000 29,986 33,383 Run-of-mine tonnes 297,186 304,309 321,393 244,959 342,368 hoisted Run-of-mine tonnes 290,028 290,854 321,983 280,777 304,354 processed Development (meters) 3,202 2,812 3,254 2,882 4,326 On-reef development 1,573 1,931 2,135 1,562 2,860 (meters) Stoping units (square 50,573 51,760 55,153 36,263 51,342 meters) Head grade 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2 (grams/tonne) Concentrator recovery 80% 78% 79% 78% 80% from ROM ore Chrome sold (tonnes) 76,677 75,846 85,347 76,900 70,850 Increase (decrease) Production statistics Q2 2010 vs. Q2 2010 vs. Q1 2010 Q2 2009 Ounces produced 289 -2,563 Run-of-mine tonnes hoisted -7,123 -45,182 Run-of-mine tonnes processed -826 -14,326 Development (meters) 390 -1,124 On-reef development (meters) -358 -1,287 Stoping units (square meters) -1,187 -769 Head grade (grams/tonne) -- -0.1 Concentrator recovery from ROM ore +2% -- Chrome sold (tonnes) 831 5,827 Production was up 1% compared to the first quarter of 2010 ("Q1 2010"), but run- of mine tonnes hoisted and on-reef development meters were down 2% and 19% respectively compared to Q1 2010 due to the dismissal of 15 contract stoping crews (out of a total of 58 crews) in May and the resulting build-up and training of new crews. Full replacement of these crews was completed in July 2010. The Company expects that on-reef development and production will increase once the new crews have been properly inducted and trained. The contract crews were dismissed due to management`s concerns over their safety procedures. Lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) was 2.78, compared to 1.77 in Q1 2010. A surface stockpile of 10,556 tonnes (representing approximately 1,100 recoverable PGM ounces) was measured at the end of the quarter. Head grade was maintained at 4.1g/t and concentrator recovery increased to an average of 80% for the quarter. Underground development commenced at Crocette on April 4, 2010 in accordance with the planned CRM production growth schedule. The qualified person having reviewed the operating results presented in this press release is Mr. Brian Montpellier, P. Eng, V.P. Project Development. Eastplats will release its full second quarter results on Wednesday, August 11, 2010. Total shares issued and outstanding: 683,030,719 For further information contact: Investor Relations Website: www.eastplats.com Email: info@eastplats.com Tel: 1-(604)-685-6851, Fax: 1-(604)-685-6493 NOMAD: Ryan Gaffney / Ryan Cohen Canaccord Genuity Limited, London Email: rgaffney@canaccordgenuity.com / rcohen@canaccordgenuity.com Tel: +44 20 7050 6500 JSE SPONSOR: Johan Fourie PSG Capital (Pty) Limited Email: johanf@psgcapital.com Tel: +27 21 887 9602 No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Certain statements included herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward- looking statements are based on certain assumptions by Eastplats and as such are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to factors such as general economic and market conditions, increased costs of production and a decline in metal prices. Eastplats is under no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. Date: 23/07/2010 08:22:25 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited (`JSE`). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on, information disseminated through SENS.

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