Wrap Text
Record production of 2,882 Mt of copper in concentrate
ZCI Limited
(Bermudian registration number 661:1969
(South African registration number 1970/000023/10)
JSE share code: ZCI ISIN: BMG9887P1068
Euronext share code: BMG9887P1068
("ZCI")
Record production of 2,882 Mt of copper in concentrate
The ZCI Group CEO expressed satisfaction with the continued improvements being made at ZCI's principal
asset. African Copper Plc (“African Copper” or the “Company”), announces record production figures for
the second quarter of fiscal 2013 from its 100% owned operating mines in Botswana.
For the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company produced 2,882 Mt of copper in concentrate. Production
in September 2012 was the third month in a row where copper produced in concentrate equalled or exceeded
950 Mt.
Second Quarter Production Highlights
* Ore processed of 250,005 Mt; 29% increase over prior year's Q2
* Copper recovery of 63.4%; 27% increase over prior year's Q2
* Copper produced in concentrate of 2,882 Mt; 59% increase over prior year's Q2
* During August 2012 the mill achieved and exceeded for the first time its nameplate capacity of
150Mtph
Mr. Jordan Soko, Acting Chief Executive of African Copper, said, “The Company is on track to achieve record
copper production in fiscal 2013. Our operations teams continue to successfully execute our mine plans and
have done a great job to increase throughput, efficiencies and plant utilisation. The focus now is to exceed
these levels as we move into increasing proportions of sulphide ore at Thakadu and to prove up additional
resources from our strong portfolio of appraisal and exploration prospects.”
All of the ore processed at the Mowana facilities during the first half, from April to end September 2012, was
sourced from the higher grade Thakadu Mine and mining operations have continued to benefit from the
increasing proportion of sulphide ore. In the three months reported below, the proportion of sulphide
ore processed increased from 49% of the total in July, to 80% in August and 68% in September.
Trucking operations from Thakadu to the Mowana Mine processing facilities, a distance of 70km, ran to plan
during the first two quarters.
Production levels for the half year to 30 September 2012 are set out below:
Description July August September Total Q2 Total Q1
2012 2012 2012 2012 2012
Ore processed (Mt) 89,727 81,294 78,984 250,005 171,908
Cu grade (%) 1.91 1.72 1.82 1.82 1.91
Recovery (%) 55.7 69.8 66.3 63.4 49
Concentrate produced (Mt) 4,319 4,841 4,650 13,810 6,888
Copper produced in concentrate (Mt) 955 976 950 2,882 1,609*
* Production during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 was adversely affected by the failure of the mill pinion shaft which cau sed
production to be shut down for 15 days.
Totals for the first six months and comparison with prior periods are as follow s:
Description 1H 2012/13 1H 2011/12 FY 2011/12
Ore processed (Mt) 421,913 392,518 738,921
Cu grade (%) 1.86 1.80 1.93
Recovery (%) 57.3 49.2 48.4
Concentrate produced (Mt) 20,698 15,712 31,027
Copper produced in concentrate (Mt) 4,490* 3,487 6,910
* Production during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 was adversely affected by the failure of the mill pinion shaft which cau sed
production to be shut down for 15 days.
The introduction of an increasing proportion of sulphide ore has brought flotation stability and
improved recovery, as evidenced by the August 2012 flotation recovery of 69.8%, and has also
resulted in the reduction of costs due to curtailed usage of the reagent AM2 (Secondary collector) and
NAHS (Sulphudiser) used to treat oxide ores. Plant efficiency has benefitted from the Larox filter plant
installed this year which has significantly increased filtration capacity and reduced moisture content.
In the month of August, the mill achieved and exceeded for the first time its nameplate capacity of 150
Mtph. As a result, the record milled tonnes stands at 3,687 Mtpd in 23.5hrs representing 156.9 Mtph.
The technical information in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by David De’Ath, BSc
(Hons), MSc, GDE-Mining, MIMM and MAusIMM, the Company’s Manager, Geology, of the Mowana
Mine for the purposes of the current Guidance Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies issued by the
London Stock Exchange in June 2009.
Bermuda
15 October 2012
Sponsor: Bridge Capital Advisors (Proprietary) Limited
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