CTRP
key attributable FY2011 data:
| Production: 2,438 PGM ounces (combined with Platinum Mile, the retreatment plants represent 3% of group attributable production) |
| Contribution to group revenue: $3 million |
| Cash costs: $1,027 per PGM ounce | R7,223 per PGM ounce |
| Capital expenditure: $0.2 million |
location:
Located adjacent to the Kroondal mine on the western limb of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa’s North West Province
comprises:
Retreatment of old PGM-bearing mine dumps and current tailings streams from the beneficiation process at neighbouring chromite mines
ownership/management:
Jointly owned by Aquarius (50%), GB Mining (25%) and Sylvania South Africa (25%). Dedicated AQPSA management team
Safety:
No fatalities and a DIIR of zero for the year
refining:
Offtake agreements with Anglo Platinum’s Rustenburg Platinum Mines and Implats’ Impala Refining Services
number of employees:
As at end June 2011, 29 employees with no contractors
about CTRP
Formed in March 2004, the Chromite Tailings Retreatment Plant (CTRP) affords Aquarius the opportunity to produce low-cost new ounces while contributing to sound environmental practices.
The first concentrate from the CTRP was produced in January 2005. Environmentally, the plant has a beneficial impact as it cleans up old tailings dumps, which are remnants of earlier chromite mining activities in the area.
The new supplies of feedstock that were secured during the year are expected to enable CTRP to increase production of PGM ounces and reduce costs in FY2012. Following the installation of new equipment, both recoveries and volumes are expected to improve in the coming year.
production
The supply of tailings from current providers declined during the year as existing dumps were exhausted and the volume of current tailings arising from chrome mining operations in the area diminished. As a result it became necessary to truck in additional material from other sources.
The treatment of this material posed handling challenges which necessitated the installation and commissioning of more appropriate equipment, resulting in significant plant downtime during this period.
The volume of material processed declined by 58% to 122,000t in FY2011. A significant increase in recoveries was insufficient to offset this and production declined by 24%.
key statistics - as at 30 June 2011
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