Sharenet Sites 
Sharenet Sites
First quarter 2013 - Operations overview and production statistics
PALABORA MINING COMPANY LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number – 1956/002134/06
JSE Code: PAM ISIN: ZAE000005245
(“Palabora” or “the Company”)
FIRST QUARTER 2013 – OPERATIONS OVERVIEW AND PRODUCTION STATISTICS
The first quarter of the year was challenging for Palabora with a number of unforeseen
events including a rail derailment in Mozambique on 18 February 2013 affecting magnetite
exports through Mozambique for almost two months to date. The bridge destroyed as a
result of the derailment is anticipated to be back in operation sometime this month.
Ore hoisting was impacted by the south winder bearing failure in February 2013 as well the
one week unprotected strike by underground employees. Palabora has always taken pride in
its industrial relations and the illegal industrial action was an unexpected disappointment.
The success of the exploratory and early development works around Lift II depends on
responsible engagement by all stakeholders for the benefit of the greater Ba-Phalaborwa
community.
Full
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q year
2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2012
Palabora mine
Tonnes hoisted (‘000 tonnes) 2,759 2,729 734 2,403 2,075 8,625
Total ore treated ('000 tonnes) 2,921 2,889 981 2,433 2,139 9,224
Underground ore grade: copper (%) 0.60 0.59 0.60 0.58 0.56 0.59
Copper concentrates produced ('000
tonnes) 51.8 54.4 20.3 43.7 35.5 170.2
Average concentrate grade: copper
(%) 30.4 28.8 27.3 27.8 28.4 28.6
Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes) 15.7 15.6 5.5 12.1 10.1 48.9
Palabora smelter/refinery
New concentrate smelted on site
('000 tonnes) 56.1 51.3 6.1 43.6 54.2 157.1
Imported concentrate - - - - 4.9 -
New copper anodes produced ('000
tonnes) 14.7 13.8 1.2 10.9 14.1 40.6
Refined new copper produced ('000
tonnes) 15.0 12.4 4.7 8.7 13.0 40.8
Joint product:
Magnetite concentrate ('000 tonnes) 957 1,420 1,475 1,428 1,146 5,280
By-product:
Nickel contained in products (tonnes) 14 13 2 3 6 32
Vermiculite plant
Vermiculite produced ('000 tonnes) 47 29 27 30 32 133
Ore hoisted was 14% and 25% lower than the previous and corresponding quarter in 2012
respectively due to the failure of the south production winder bearing and unprotected
industrial action by underground employees.
Total ore treated was 12% and 27% lower than the previous and corresponding quarter in
2012 respectively in line with reduced throughput from the underground. Slag processed
was insignificant for the quarter compared to 97kt and 411kt for the previous and
corresponding quarter in 2012 respectively.
Copper concentrate produced was 19% and 32% lower than the previous and
corresponding quarter in 2012 respectively in line with upstream throughput as well as the
impact of the fine ore overland conveyor breakdown which reduced production from the
conventional circuit.
Copper in concentrate produced was in line with ore milled and lower ore grade.
New concentrate smelted was 24% higher than the previous quarter in 2012 due to the
delayed start-up of the smelter which shutdown following the guide rope failure incident. The
delay was as a result of the nationwide transporters’ strike which affected the delivery of
consumables resulting in build up of concentrate inventory. Production was also increased
by 4.9kt imported concentrate at an average grade of 38%.
New anode produced was 29% higher than the previous quarter in 2012 in line with new
concentrate smelted. It was 4% lower than the corresponding quarter of 2012 because of the
breakdown of converter aisle track loader.
Refined new copper produced was 48% higher compared to the previous quarter and 13%
lower compared to corresponding quarter in 2012 in line with new anodes produced.
Magnetite produced was 20% lower compared to the previous quarter due to lower supply
from underground following the unprotected strike by underground employees and increased
downtimes at magbooster as a result of stone blockages from the reclaim stockpiles.
Production was 20% higher compared to the corresponding quarter in 2012 mainly due to
increased trucking to Maputo.
Vermiculite was 7% higher than the previous quarter and remained in line with the relatively
depressed market requirements. The production was 32% lower than the corresponding
period in 2012 in line with market demand.
The above information has not been reviewed or reported on by the Company’s auditors.
Phalaborwa
15 April 2013
Investor Relations Contact: Dikeledi Nakene, Palabora +27 15 780 2277
Media Contact: Gugulakhe Lourie, Rio Tinto South Africa +27 11 911 9700
Sponsor: One Capital
Date: 15/04/2013 04:07:00 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.
