Impala Platinum's Zimbabwe unit Zimplats recorded a two per cent rise in quarterly platinum group metal (pgm) production as all three of the company's underground mines operated at full capacity.

The firm said 4E metal in concentrate hit 97,174 oz in the December quarter, up from 94,952 oz in the preceding period and a rise of five per cent from 2010.

Ore mined slipped two per cent from the September quarter to 1.134 million tonnes, an 11 per cent rise from the same period a year ago.

Head grade fell from 3.36 4E g/t in the September quarter to 3.3 g/t in December, while recovery rates slipped marginally from 83 per cent to 82.5 per cent.

Zimplats hailed its "excellent" safety performance, with no lost time injuries recorded.

It also said the Ngezi Phase II Expansion project is on schedule, while discussions on the Indigenisation Implementation Plan remain on-going.

Despite the positive production performance, Zimplats reported a 68 per cent drop in quarterly profit.

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Zimplats Q2 profit 68 percent down on weak prices (09/02/12)

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