Zimplats revealed yesterday (28th October) that its pgm production in concentrate increased by 51 per cent during the quarter up to the end of September.

The company, which is a unit of Impala Platinum, saw output hit 74,389 oz 4E (platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold), compared with 49,028 oz in the previous quarter.

Ramping up of underground production played a significant role in the improvement, with Zimplats also indicating that total ore mined increased by 18 per cent.

In addition, the firm milled 869,000 tonnes during the quarter - up from 541,000 tonnes - with the commissioning of the Ngezi concentrator serving as a major contributing factor.

Meanwhile, Zimplats announced that initial tests are being carried out ahead of the planned second phase of the Ngezi expansion project and should be completed in Q1 2010.

"This phase will consist of a two-million-tonne-per-annum underground mine, a concentrator module of the same capacity and related infrastructure," said the company.

The quarterly report also revealed that development of the Portal Four underground mine is progressing well and that it should hit full production in May 2011.

Zimplats is currently 86.9 per cent-owned by Impala Platinum, which is the world's second-largest producer of the precious metal.

Sources:

REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2009 (28/10/09)

Zimplats to complete Ngezi initial expansion study in early 2010 (28/10/09)

Zimplats says quarterly output up 51 percent (29/10/09)

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