South Africa: Rains affect Amplats Tumela production
Anglo American Platinum said it had halted operations at its Tumela mine after excessive rains caused flooding, though the company maintained its production forecast for the year. The world's top producer of platinum group metals (PGM) used to curb vehicle emissions said in a statement that heavy rains in the northern part of South Africa over the past week had caused widespread flooding.
Tumela mine, the smaller underground operation in Amplats' Amandelbult complex, was the most impacted, it said.
Operations in the rest of the complex, including the main Dishaba mine, the concentrator and other infrastructure, were largely unaffected and operations there had resumed on Monday after a temporary pause.
A detailed impact assessment and recovery plan to ensure safe production at Tumela mine, which produces about 10% of Amplats' monthly metal-in-concentrate, was under way.
"Preliminary indications are that the 2025 metal-in-concentrate production guidance of 3 million to 3.4 million PGM ounces is not expected to be impacted," Amplats said.
Amplats on February 17 reported a 40% decline in profit for 2024 to R8.4bn as lower PGM prices continue to hurt its income.
Syndigate.info).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
30-05-2025
- Zawya
African Mining Week (AMW) to Spotlight Opportunities in South Africa's Platinum Group Metals (PGM) Market
The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) – Africa's premier gathering for mining stakeholders, taking place from October 1-3, 2025, in Cape Town – will feature a dedicated panel exploring investment and growth opportunities within the country's platinum group metals (PGM) market. Titled, South Africa's Strategic Influence in the Global PGM Market, the panel session will spotlight national initiatives designed to strengthen the country's PGM value chain – an industry that already accounts for approximately 80% of global supplies. As South Africa strengthens its position as the world's leading producer of PGM, the session will foster greater collaboration among industry stakeholders. Speakers are expected to address challenges and opportunities across the value chain, identifying strategies for accelerating production and consolidating the country's position as a major global supplier. African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@ South Africa's PGM market offers significant opportunities for mining companies and investors. In May 2025, mining firm Ivanhoe Mines reached a significant milestone by driving underground development into the high-grade platinum, palladium, rhodium, nickel, gold and copper orebody at the Platreef Mine in Mokopane. First production at the project is targeted for Q4, 2025, followed by Phase 2 within two years after first production. The project, containing over 95 million tons of PGMs, aims to produce 450,000 ounces annually in Phase 2. Meanwhile, Canada-based Platinum Group Metals Ltd. recently announced plans to raise $1.8 billion through a private placement to advance the Waterburg Project in South Africa. The project holds proven and probable reserves of 246.2 million tons of platinum, palladium, rhodium and hold at an average grade of 2.96 grams per ton. With aims to diversify its product portfolio and enhance revenue generation, mining Group Pelagic Resources launched the development of a new PGM concentrator at its Kookfontein Mine in February this year. Designed by exploration company Nuco Chrome in early 2024, the concentrator is currently in an advanced development stage and is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2025. Other major PGM developments in South Africa include the 40-million-ounce Bengwenyama Project by Southern Palladium, which completed a pre-feasibility study in October last year, confirming a 14% increase in PGM reserves. Meanwhile, Vanadium Resources Ltd. recently signed an agreement with China Energy Engineering International Group for the provision of engineering, procurement and construction services for the Steelpoortdrift Vanadium Project. The open pit mine and treatment facility will be developed for the exploitation of 680 million tons of vanadium resources in the Bushveld Complex. Additionally, Northam Platinum Holdings is reviving the Eland Mine Complex in the North West Province, with aims to increase PGM production from 100,000 ounces annually in 2025 to 180,000 ounces by 2028. Amid this growth, AMW will serve as a key platform to unpack these developments and explore new strategies being implemented to attract investment and boost production. The event will bring together South African regulators, mining executives and global partners to shape the future of the country's PGM sector. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Zawya
23-05-2025
- Zawya
Anglo American Platinum Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Confirmed to Speak at African Mining Week 2025
Craig Miller, CEO of mining company Anglo American Platinum, has been confirmed to speak at the upcoming African Mining Week 2025 conference. During the event, Miller is expected to shed light on the company's strategy in Africa as well as the continent's pivotal role in strengthening the global PGM supply chain. Miller will speak on a panel titled: South Africa's Strategic Influence in the Global Platinum Group Metals Market. Taking place October 1–3, 2025, in Cape Town, African Mining Week is Africa's premier gathering for mining stakeholders and provides a strategic platform for industry leaders, investors and companies to unlock emerging opportunities across the continent's mining value chain. As the CEO of the world's largest platinum group metals (PGM) producer, Miller is uniquely positioned to discuss the continent's emergence as a global PGM supplier and the impact resource-rich nations such as South Africa will have on future supply chains. African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@ With global demand for PGMs increasing - driven by applications in electric vehicles and clean energy technologies – Anglo American Platinum is positioning itself as an instrumental part of the continent's PGM value chain. The company operates several of South Africa's key PGM producing assets, including the 5.8-million-ounce (oz) Tumela Mine, the 310,000-oz Mogalakwena Mine, the 217,000-oz Kroondal Mine, the 160,000-oz Dishaba Mine, among other projects. In Zimbabwe, the company manages the Unki Platinum Mine, one of the country's largest with an annual production capacity of 64,000 oz. For 2025, the company has set a refined production target of up to 3.4 million oz across its PGM projects, supported by ongoing mine expansions and new investments across its African portfolio. As such, African Mining Week 2025 will serve as a crucial platform for Miller to share insight into the company's investments in Africa and the road ahead for the continent's PGM production. Through his participation, Miller is expected to outline the company's future direction, strategic priorities and ongoing projects, while reinforcing cooperation with African and international partners to enhance operational performance and market access. The South Africa's Strategic Influence in the Global Platinum Group Metals Market session offers a strategic opportunity for conference attendees to gain insight into both the country's PGM market and its future role as a global supplier. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Zawya
South Africa: Sibanye-Stillwater Q1 2025 operating results "pleasing"
Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater says there are many 'pleasing aspects from the Q1 2025 operating results which reinforce the positive trends which were evident in the Group's operating and financial performance for H2 2024'. Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater says there are many 'pleasing aspects from the Q1 2025 operating results. Pictured: Driefontein Mine. (Image: Sibanye-Stillwater) Health and Safety He also says, 'It is particularly gratifying to note the continued improvement in most Group safety indicators, with the Group lost day injury frequency rate (LDIFR) and total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) for Q1 2025, the lowest recorded in the Group's history." While he commended the teams at the operations for maintaining and improving safety trends since 2021, he says they regrettably continue to experience high-impact safety incidents, which are the cause of serious and fatal injuries. 'We will continue with our efforts to address the occurrence of these incidents, to ensure the safety and health of all our employees.' Repositioning of the US PGM operations The repositioning of the US PGM operations and restructuring of high-cost and end-of-life mines, along with the realignment of the SA regional services to more effectively support the reduced operating footprint in South Africa, has notably improved Group profitability. Group adjusted EBITDA of R4bn ($222m) was 89% higher than adjusted EBITDA of R2.2bn ($115m) for Q1 2024. Stabilising of Group profitability The first quarter of the year is also historically a seasonally low production quarter for the SA mining industry, and the 31% or R981m ($47m) increase in Q1 2025 adjusted EBITDA, from adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2024 of R3.1bn ($175m) is a significant change in the financial performance of the Group. 'This reinforces the trend we noted in our H2 2024 results in February 2025, that Group profitability appeared to have stabilised, with H2 2024 marking the third consecutive six-month period of consistent Group adjusted EBITDA of between R6.4 to R6.7bnn ($344 – 357m per half year period,' says Froneman. SA Gold operation The SA gold operations continued to benefit from high leverage to the increasing gold price for Q1 2025, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by 178% year-on-year to R1.8bn ($98m). Operational challenges which constrained production during Q1 2025 have largely been addressed at Beatrix and Driefontein, with production and costs expected to improve during Q2 2025. Kloof is undergoing a transition to a higher volume, lower grade future production profile, accessing secondary reef horizons, which have largely been unexploited in the past, and is expected to stabilise over a longer period. With the gold price increasing further during Q2 2025, if maintained, profits from the SA gold operations could increase materially. SA PGM operations The SA PGM operations also reversed a declining profitability trend despite the 4E PGM basket price remaining under pressure. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 74% to R2.5bn ($137m) for Q1 2025, driven by solid cost management, which offset inflationary cost pressures and enabled positive financial leverage to a 5% increase in the 4E basket price. US PGM operations The restructuring of the US PGM operations during Q4 2024, successfully reduced absolute operating cost (excluding provision for S45X credits) by 37% with absolute AISC costs (excluding provision for S45X credits) declining by 44% year-on-year. Despite a marginally lower average 2E PGM basket price for Q1 2025 compared with Q1 2024, on a like-for-like basis (excluding the once off $43m (R812m) insurance payment during Q1 2024 related to the flooding event during mid-2022), adjusted EBITDA for the US PGM operations for Q1 2025 (excluding provision for S45X credits) improved by $2m (R31m) year-on-year to a loss of $9m (R172m). Including the estimated S45X credit for Q1 2025 of $6m (R111m), the adjusted EBITDA loss would have reduced further, to approximately $3m (R55m) for Q1 2025. Combined with an estimated S45X credit of $6m (R111m) for the US PGM recycling operations along with a consistent financial contribution from the US PGM recycling operation for Q1 2025 (Adjusted EBITDA of $4m), the financial position of the US PGM operations on a combined basis is considerably improved, supporting a more sustainable future for the US PGM operations. Century operations The Century operations in the Australian (AUS) region, increased production materially compared with Q1 2024 (impacted by extreme weather and flooding) after implementing weather resilience measures during 2024, enabling a $10m (R178m) contribution to Group adjusted EBITDA, compared with a $14m (R262m) adjusted EBITDA loss for Q1 2024. Sandouville refinery We are confident that further operational improvements can be achieved during the course of 2025 and sustained into 2026, with losses from the Sandouville refinery anticipated to decline as operations wind down and the facility is placed on planned care and maintenance, further improving Group profitability. Keliber lithium project Group cash flow from 2026 will also benefit from reduced annual capital commitments following the forecast completion of the construction/development phase of the Keliber lithium project, with hot commissioning of the refinery scheduled for H1 2026. Capital Project capital is forecast to drop to a substantially reduced level, from revised capital guidance of €300m (R5.9bn) for 2025, positively impacting Group cash flow for 2026. The Group annual capital expenditure has steadily decreased since 2023, with capital expenditure guidance for 2025, R2bn ($120m) or 12% lower than invested for 2023. This reduction in annual capital expenditure is primarily related to restructuring of the US PGM operations for sustainability through an extended period of low PGM prices, which has been successfully achieved, and restructuring of the SA gold operations, primarily related to the closure of Kloof 4 shaft and the development of the Burnstone project being deferred from H2 2023. Capital investment for the Keliber lithium project has increased since the project was approved in 2022. Project capital is forecast to decrease to a substantially reduced level for 2026, from revised capital guidance of €300m (R5.9bn) for 2025, following forecast completion of the project construction/development phase in H1 2026. This is likely to result in Group capital commitments for 2026 reducing to below R15bn, with a resulting benefit to annual Group cash flow. Positive outcomes to continue 'We have actively managed our operations and balance sheet for sustainability and profitability through an extended period of low metal prices. 'The increase in Group adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was not solely a function of our leveraged exposure to the increasing gold price, but reflects the combined outcome of operational restructuring we implemented from H2 2023, which has resulted in increased profitability from most of our operations. 'We expect these positive outcomes from our actions during the last two years to continue. 'Along with reduced future annual capital requirements, we believe that this result signals a clear inflexion point for the Group, and is set to position us to realise ongoing value for stakeholders,' states Froneman.
