Anglo American Platinum Limited |
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Tumela Mine
(managed – 100% owned)
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TUMELA MINE (managed - 100% owned) |
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MINE OVERVIEW
Tumela Mine is situated in the province of Limpopo in South Africa, between the towns of Northam and Thabazimbi, and forms part of the North-western Limb of the Bushveld Complex. The mine operates under a mining right covering a total area of 111 square kilometres.
The current working mine infrastructure consists of three vertical and four decline shaft systems to transport rock, workers and material. The mining occurs on both the Merensky Reef and the UG2 Reef horizons, and the mine is subdivided into two production areas, namely Tumela Lower Mine and Tumela Upper Mine. The predominant mining layout is conventional scattered breast mining with strike pillars. The operating depth for the current workings is between 160 m and 850 m below surface.
Tumela Mine's life-of-mine (LoM) extends to well beyond 2091 and consists of a Mineral Resource (exclusive of Ore Reserves) of 63.2 4E million ounces and an Ore Reserve of 24.2 4E million ounces.
Peter van Dorssen was the general manager at the mine during 2011 before being transferred to the Corporate Office. We would like to thank him for his contribution to the mine during his tenure as general manager.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Improved safety performance in 2011.
- Strong immediately available Ore Reserve position.
OPERATIONAL REVIEW
Tumela Mine achieved two million fatality-free shifts in August 2011. Regrettably, following this milestone achievement, Mr Ramontsho Bernard Mfetane, a winch operator, was fatally injured in a winch and rigging incident on 18 October. The lost-time injury-frequency rate nevertheless improved by 10% to 1.60 (compared with the 1.77 achieved in 2010).
The output of equivalent refined platinum ounces decreased by 11% to 264,000 ounces, principally as the result of safety stoppages, lower overall grades due to the higher percentage of UG2 ore being mined and lower treatment of surface material. The tonnes milled decreased by 7% to 4.2 million tonnes. The 4E built-up head grade was reduced by 3.0% to 3.91 g/tonne, as the result of an increase in development on the UG2 Reef horizon to establish sufficient Ore Reserves. The immediately available Ore Reserves ended the year on a strong 28.3 months, up 19% on the figure for 2010. Productivity declined to 5.2 m² per operating employee, from 5.7 m2 in 2010.
Cash on-mine costs increased by 14% to R2.9 billion in 2011, in the wake of inflationary cost increases. The above-inflation increase was driven mainly by an increase in the labour complement, which ensured that all mining-related activities were adequately resourced.
The cash on-mine cost per tonne milled increased to R708, up 22% on 2010, while the cash operating expenses (costs after allowing for off-mine smelting and refining activities) per equivalent refined ounce increased by 25%, to R12,308.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Total capital expenditure increased to R293 million in 2011 (R225 million in 2010). Stay-in-business capital expenditure was R256 million (R240 million in 2010), while project capital amounted to R37 million.
The Tumela 10 West project advanced from pre-feasibility stage to feasibility in 2011. This project entails the deepening of the existing 10 West decline system and the 16 West belt decline.
The Tumela 4 shaft project was deferred in October 2008 following the global financial crisis. Evaluation of extraction options for Mineral Resources associated with the 4 Shaft area are ongoing.
OUTLOOK
The mine is expected to increase its equivalent refined platinum ounce production in 2012, to levels similar to those achieved in 2009 and 2010.
