| Wed 8 Aug 2012, 8:00 | | ZCI LIMITED - Production Update for ACU |
|
ZCI 201208080005A
Production Update for ACU
ZCI Limited
(Bermudian registration number 661:1969
(South African registration number 1970/000023/10)
JSE share code: ZCI ISIN: BMG9887P1068
Euronext share code: BMG9887P1068
("ZCI" or "the Group")
PRODUCTION UPDATE FOR AFRICAN COPPER PLC
ZCI is pleased to report that its subsidiary, African Copper plc (“ACU” or the “Company"), announces a
production update for its Mowana and Thakadu Mines. All of the ore processed at the Mowana processing
facility during the period from April to July 2012 was sourced from the higher grade Thakadu mine, where
mining operations continue to move towards sustained production of sulphide ore. Ore trucking
operations from Thakadu to the Mowana Mine processing facilities ran smoothly during the period.
Recent production levels are set out below:
Description April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012
Ore processed (Mt) 60,232 34,051 77,625 89,727
Cu grade (%) 1.72 2.56 1.77 1.91
Recovery (%) 67.7 30.9 46.2 55.7
Concentrate produced (Mt) 3,123 1,030 2,735 4,319
Copper produced in concentrate (Mt) 704 270 635 955
As previously announced, production during the April to June quarter was adversely affected by the failure of
the Mowana mill pinion shaft on 20 May 2012, which caused a 43% decline in ore processed between April
and May 2012 whilst repairs were undertaken. A spare pinion shaft, already on order, was fast tracked from
the supplier in France. A total of 15 days were lost during the outage; but during that period the mill gearbox
and pinion shaft assembly were replaced, and a mill reline completed. Production restarted on 4 June 2012.
In April, a total of 704 tonnes of copper in concentrate was produced at a high recovery rate of 67.7%, owing
to the treatment of predominantly sulphide ore from the Thakadu mine, at an open pit depth of 50m. During
May and June, the plant reverted to treating oxidic and mixed ores from previously mined Thakadu material,
and the resulting lower recovery rates of these ore types caused a decrease in copper in concentrate
production for these months.
During July, significant improvements in production were achieved. Total ore processed increased 16% on
June 2012 production while recovery rates increased from 46.2% to 55.7%, as higher recovery sulphide ore
from the Thakadu mine was processed. Furthermore record production of 955 tonnes of copper in concentrate
was achieved on the back of good plant availability and utilisation. As mining from the Thakadu open pit
continues, the Company expects to continue to be able to access and process the higher recovery sulphide
ore for a sustained period.
The capital investment at the Mowana plant, particularly the column cells and Larox filter has resulted in a
marked improvement in silica removal from the ore being processed and a reduction in moisture content of the
concentrate from the cells and filter respectively. Operations are currently focussed on sustaining, and then
improving on, the production levels seen during July.
For further information please visit www.africancopper.com
Bermuda
8 August 2012
Sponsor: Bridge Capital Advisors (Pty) Limited
Date: 08/08/2012 08:00:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
information disseminated through SENS.
