Aquarius Platinum saw its group attributable pgm production decline slightly in its latest financial year, it has been confirmed.

The world's fourth-largest platinum producer registered output of 422,645 oz in the year to 30th June, which was seven per cent lower than the previous year's total of 455,675 oz.

According to the company, the decline can largely be explained by the closure of the Everest mine until it was recommissioned in May, on budget and three months ahead of schedule.

Aquarius noted that the dip in output is also linked to labour unrest at the Marikana and Kroondal mines, which affected operations at both facilities in the first quarter of the financial year.

The latest figures revealed that the firm saw total mine pgm production reach 836,795 oz, representing a decrease of one per cent from the preceding 12-month period.

Although there were only three fatalities, all at Blue Ridge, during the year, Aquarius is now working on a safety review after a fall of ground incident killed five workers at Marikana in July.

Aquarius currently has seven mining operations, spread across the Bushveld Complex in South Africa and Zimbabwe's platinum-rich Great Dyke region.

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Aquarius Platinum Limited Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2010 (30/09/10)

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