Platinum Australia has confirmed today (27th January) that it produced the first flotation concentrates at its Smokey Hills platinum mine in South Africa on Friday.

The company revealed that it will be sending the first shipment of concentrates to the Rustenburg-based smelter operated by Impala Platinum in the next week to ten days.

Although originally commencing as an open cut operation, the shallow underground mine development phase at Smokey Hill has now started and will take over production in the next 12 months.

Platinum Australia believes that the on-site treatment plant, which has a design capacity of 720,000 tonnes per annum, will allow production of 95,000 oz 4E pgm (Pt, Pd, Rh & Au)  in a flotation concentrate.

Managing Director John Lewins said: "The production of first concentrates from our Smokey Hills Platinum Mine is a major milestone for Platinum Australia as it marks the transformation of our company from explorer/developer to producer."

Mr Lewins also expressed his belief that Smokey Hills could become one of the lowest cost producers in the industry, with average on-site expenses expected to be less than $200 per oz 4E pgm.

Source:

FIRST CONCENTRATES PRODUCED AT THE SMOKEY HILLS PLATINUM MINE (27/01/09)
http://www.gtp.com.au/platinumaus/inews_files/Smokey_First_Concentrate_Jan09[1].pdf