Palabora - Update on the Reverbatory Furnace Rebui
PAM
PAM
Palabora - Update on the Reverbatory Furnace Rebuild
palabora mining company limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number - 1956/002134/06
JSE Code: PAM ISIN: ZAE000005245
("Palabora" or "the Company")
UPDATE ON THE REVERBATORY FURNACE REBUILD
This announcement is prepared to advise shareholders of a planned refurbishment
at Palabora.
The Company"s reverberatory furnace has been in operation now for over 40 years
and has been subject to 7 rebuilds. During 2005, the level of concentrate
smelted increased steadily but performance was constrained by the poor condition
of the reverberatory furnace which was last rebuilt in 2000. The refurbishment
was started on 29 January 2006 and it is estimated that the shutdown will take
around 35 days to complete. It is anticipated that the rebuild of the furnace
will increase the capacity by around 10%, taking the overall operational
capacity to 110,000 tonnes per annum.
As well as rebuilding the furnace with 120,000 refactory bricks, all of the
supporting steel, the main buck stays and tie rods will be replaced. The
shutdown will be used to both inspect and repair the reverberatory furnace and
the converter stacks. The final water cooled converter hoods will be installed
on number 1 converter and the annual acid plant shutdown will take place during
this period.
To mitigate the impact on copper sales, approximately 7,000 tonnes of anode
stock has been accumulated ahead of the refinery to ensure that cathode
production through the refinery is maintained.
Phalaborwa
9 February 2006
Sponsor:
Barnard Jacobs Mellet Corporate Finance (Pty) Limited
Date: 09/02/2006 10:01:06 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
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