|
Kumba Resources Limited -
Kumba Resources Limited
("Kumba")
Share Code: KMB
ISIN: ZAE000034310
TICOR SOUTH AFRICA"S FURNACE RAMP-UP AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Kumba Resources Limited ("Kumba") and Ticor Limited ("Ticor") today announced
that the first furnace of the jointly owned Ticor South Africa titanium smelter
situated at Empangeni has reached 50% production capacity after its first eight
weeks of operation.
"Rapid progress in the commissioning process has placed production about three
months ahead of schedule," said Wim de Klerk, general manager of Kumba"s heavy
minerals business unit.
The commissioning objective is to ramp-up to full production 18 months after
initial production started in April 2003. Commissioning of other elements of the
smelter, which includes the slag treatment plant, metal treatment plant, and the
low manganese pig iron caster, is also progressing well.
"Importantly, we are now producing both products, titania slag and low manganese
pig iron, within market specification. We have also started to build our
stockpile in preparation for the first sales," said Rod Ruston, Ticor"s managing
director.
Ticor South Africa successfully commissioned the Hillendale mine and the mineral
separation plant during 2002. The commissioning of the first furnace of the
smelter will complete the first stage of the project. The second stage of the
smelter project will be the construction and commissioning of the second
furnace.
Construction of the second furnace is more than 90% complete and on track with
original planning.
With both furnaces in full operation, Ticor South Africa will produce 250 000
tonnes of titanium slag and 140 000 tonnes of low manganese pig iron per year.
Kumba and Ticor respectively own 60% and 40% of Ticor South Africa. Kumba"s
50,12% shareholding in Ticor means that Kumba effectively owns 80% of the
Empangeni operation.
ends
2 June 2003
P.O. Box 9229 PRETORIA 0001
Telephone : + 27 (12) 307 4843
Telefax : + 27 (12) 307 4080
Note
KUMBA RESOURCES LIMITEDKumba Resources Limited, one of the largest South African
based mining companies listed on the JSE Securities Exchange, is a focused
metals and mining company with a diverse commodity portfolio consisting of iron
ore, heavy minerals, coal, base metals and industrial minerals.
www.kumbaresources.com
TICOR LIMITED
Ticor Limited is a titanium dioxide company listed on the Australian Stock
Exchange. Ticor Limited has a 50:50 interest with Kerr McGee in the Tiwest joint
venture. The Tiwest project is situated along the west coast of Australia where
a dune deposit is mined for ilmenite for conversion to synthetic rutile, which
is used for the manufacture of titanium dioxide pigment in a plant owned by the
joint venture. www.ticor.com.au
TICOR SOUTH AFRICA
Ticor South Africa is jointly owned by Ticor Limited (40%) and Kumba Resources
Limited (60%). The company is situated at Empangeni and currently consists of
the Hillendale mine, a mineral separation plant and a smelter being constructed
to process ilmenite, rutile and zircon heavy minerals.
www.ticor-sa.com
For media relations enquiries, please contact:
Pat Mdoda
General Manager: Corporate Affairs
Tel: 012 - 307-4553
Mobile: 083 609 1204
For investor relations enquiries, please contact:
Trevor Arran
General Manager: Investor Relations
Tel: 012 - 307-3292
Mobile: 083 609 1444
Date: 02/06/2003 08:30:05 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za
Produced by the JSE SENS Department
| Profile Group (Pty) Ltd. has taken care in preparing all information on this website, but does not accept any liability for errors or out-of-date information. | |||||||||||||
| Other Profile Group sites: FundsData Online (unit trust data) | Profile Group corporate site | |||||||||||||
| [ Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | PAIA manual | FAQs/Help | Site Map | © Copyright Reserved 2026 ] | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
