Overview – Q1 2022 performance against prior period Q1 2021
- Safety performance – zero work-related fatalities in Q1 2022 at all operations.
- Total PGMs production (expressed as 5E+Au metal-in-concentrate) decreased 6% to 956,000 ounces.
- Own-managed mines PGMs production of 529,200 ounces decreased by 11% primarily due to lower production from Mogalakwena which was impacted by heavy rainfall and redirected mining into lower-grade areas, and Covid-19 impacting delivery of equipment, partially offset by improved performances at Amandelbult, Mototolo and Unki.
- Refined PGMs production (owned production, excluding tolling) decreased by 26% to 718,500 ounces due to more normalised throughput, as Q1 2021 benefited from higher-than-normal work-in-progress inventory following the ACP Phase A rebuild and commissioning in Q4 2020.
- PGMs sales volumes (from production, excluding sales from trading) decreased by 26% to 838,200 ounces in line with lower refined production.
- Revised 2022 guidance - metal-in-concentrate production revised to between 3.9 - 4.3 million PGM ounces (previously 4.1 - 4.5 million PGM ounces), refined production revised to between 4.0 - 4.4 million PGM ounces (previously 4.2 - 4.6 million PGM ounces) and unit cost per PGM ounce produced revised to R14,000 - R15,000 per PGM ounce (previously R13,800 - R14,500 per PGM ounce).
Natascha Viljoen, CEO of Anglo American Platinum, said:
“Our strong commitment to and focus on safety resulted in no work-related fatalities at all operations in the quarter, including our Joint Operations. We continue to work extremely hard at all operations to improve the safety of our people and were able to reduce our total-recordable-case-injury-frequency rate (TRCFR) by 19% to 2.16 per million hours worked. Tragically, post the quarter end, we lost our colleague, Mr Boitshepo "Julian" Sesinyi. Julian showed tremendous courage and a fighting spirit in his rehabilitation, following a slip-and-fall incident at the ACP processing facility on 23 November 2021 when he sustained a serious spinal injury. Sadly, he succumbed to a complication whilst recovering at the rehabilitation facility. A full investigation into the cause of Julian's passing is underway. We once again send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Whilst seasonally Q1 is generally a lower production quarter, as employees complete medical onboarding following the December break, we saw total PGM production decrease by 6%. The severe rainfall across South Africa in the first quarter impacted mining activity at Mogalakwena, leading to mining activity being redirected to lower grade areas, as well as utilising low-grade ore stockpiles to offset this headwind. This was partially offset by improved performances at Amandelbult, Mototolo and Unki. We continue to feel the impact of Covid-19, with supply chain disruptions impacting delivery of heavy mining equipment (HME), delaying our ability to drill and develop at Mogalakwena.
Refined PGM production decreased by 26% to 718,500 PGM ounces, to a more normalised level of throughput, as Q1 2021 benefited from higher-than-normal work-in-progress inventory following the ACP Phase A rebuild and commissioning in Q4 2020. In addition, planned annual maintenance and the annual stock count resulted in additional downtime of processing assets in Q1 2022. Sales volumes were lower in line with refined production. We successfully recommissioned the Anglo Convertor Plant (ACP) phase B unit in the period.
With our stated strategic objective of embedding asset reliability across our assets we will continue with the planned rebuild of the Polokwane smelter in Q3. During this period, we will use this time to take Mogalakwena South Concentrator down for planned extended maintenance. As a result of the headwinds in Q1 leading to a slow start to the year, the delay in delivery of HME, and with the planned maintenance in Q3, we will see an impact on production, with little ability to catch-up in the year. In addition, we anticipate lower receipts of third-party purchase of concentrate and as a result, we have conservatively decided to revise down metal-in-concentrate production to 3.9 - 4.3 million PGM ounces. Refined production will therefore also revise down to between 4.0 - 4.4 million ounces and our unit cost guidance is revised to between R14,000 - R15,000 per PGM ounce due to lower anticipated production and the continued inflationary pressure on input costs.
The discipline to continue with the asset reliability maintenance cycle means we will see short term impacts on production, but we continue to improve our operating environment and the reliability of our assets to deliver sustainable value creation.”
Review of the quarter
Safety
Anglo American Platinum reported no work-related fatalities during the quarter at all operations, including Joint Operations, Kroondal and Modikwa. The Total Recordable Case Frequency Rate (TRCFR) per million hours at managed operations improved by 19% to 2.16 per million hours, compared to 2.68 per million hours in the prior period. Significant management effort is focusing on high potential incidents to reduce injuries, resulting in a record safety performance.
Tragically, post the quarter end, we lost our colleague, Mr Boitshepo "Julian" Sesinyi. Julian showed tremendous courage and a fighting spirit in his rehabilitation, following a slip-and-fall incident at the ACP processing facility on 23 November 2021 when he sustained a serious spinal injury. Sadly, he succumbed to a complication whilst recovering at the rehabilitation facility. A full investigation into the cause of Julian's passing is underway. We once again send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Metal-in-concentrate (M&C) PGM production
Total PGM production
Total PGM production in Q1 2022 decreased 6% against the prior period (Q1 2021) to 956,000 ounces, with platinum production 5% lower to 444,300 ounces, and palladium production 10% lower to 296,600 ounces.
PGM production from own-managed mines
Total PGM production from own-managed mines decreased by 11% to 529,200 ounces (platinum production decreased by 10% to 241,000 ounces, while palladium production decreased by 15% to 191,600 ounces).
PGM Production at Mogalakwena decreased by 24% to 248,800 ounces compared to the record production from the mine in the prior period (platinum decreased by 24% to 104,400 and palladium production decreased by 25%, to 114,500 ounces). The decrease was largely due to a 17% reduction in 4E built-up head grade to 2.81g/t from 3.39g/t, as severe rainstorms led to the redirection of mining to lower grade areas, as well as lower grade ore stockpiles being utilised. In addition, Covid-19 and global geopolitical events are impacting supply chains, which has delayed delivery of HME to site, impacting advancement in drilling. As the South Concentrator will undergo planned maintenance in Q3, to coincide with the Polokwane smelter rebuild, there will be little ability to make up production in 2022.
PGM production from Amandelbult increased by 3% to 159,900 ounces (platinum production increased by 2% to 81,400 ounces and palladium production increased by 4% to 37,100 ounces), despite further infrastructure closures in Q2 2021 (which benefited the prior period by c.19,200 PGM ounces). Amandelbult saw an improvement in underground mining performance, which also resulted in an increase in 4E built-up head grade.
Mototolo PGM production increased by 15% to 67,200 ounces (platinum production increased by 14% to 30,700 ounces and palladium increased by 17% to 19,700 ounces), due to higher grade and an improved return-to-work process following the December holiday period.
Unki PGM production increased by 5% to 53,300 ounces (platinum production increased by 8% to 24,500 ounces and palladium production increased by 2% to 20,300 ounces). The concentrator debottlenecking project was completed in Q4 2021 which increased concentrator capacity from 180ktpm to 210ktpm. Increased underground mining and ore stockpile availability led to a 21% increase in tonnes milled. Further work is planned to increase plant stability which should lead to an improvement in throughput.
PGM production from Joint Operations (50% own-mined production and 50% purchase of concentrate)
Total PGM production from Joint Operations decreased by 6% to 187,800 ounces (platinum production decreased by 4% to 85,600 ounces while palladium production decreased by 8% to 55,200 ounces).
Total Kroondal PGM production decreased by 7% to 119,200 ounces (platinum production decreased by 5% to 58,600 ounces and palladium production decreased by 9% to 29,600 ounces) largely due to the natural decline of Simunye and lower grades at the Bambanani and Kwezi shafts. This was partly offset by production from the new Kilpfontein opencast.
Total Modikwa PGM production decreased by 4% to 68,600 ounces (platinum production decreased by 4% to 27,000 ounces and palladium production decreased 5% to 25,600 ounces) as the mine milled Merensky ore that was not milled in the prior period, which slightly lowered 4E built-up head grade and recovery.
Purchases of PGM concentrate from third parties
Purchase of PGM concentrate (POC) from third parties increased by 6% to 239,000 ounces (platinum POC increased 6% to 117,700 ounces and palladium POC increased by 7% to 49,700 ounces) primarily due to the continued recovery of third-party volumes from the impact of Covid-19.
Base metal production
Total base metal production (copper and nickel) decreased 6%, with nickel down 5% to 4,600 tonnes and copper down 8% to 3,400 tonnes impacted by lower production from Mogalakwena.
Refined PGM production
Refined PGM production (from owned production, excluding tolling) decreased by 26% to 718,500 ounces, due to more normalised throughput, as Q1 2021 benefited from higher-than-normal work-in-progress inventory following the ACP Phase A rebuild and commissioning in Q4 2020. In addition, planned annual maintenance and the annual stock count (including at the Precious Metal Refinery which only occurs every three years) resulted in additional downtime of processing assets in Q1 2022. Refined platinum production decreased by 27% to 334,100 ounces and refined palladium production decreased by 28% to 228,100 ounces.
Toll refined PGM production decreased by 12% to 154,800 PGM ounces.
The Anglo Convertor Plant (ACP) Phase B unit was successfully commissioned in the quarter and the Phase A unit decommissioned for planned maintenance.
PGM sales volumes
PGM sales volumes (excluding trading) decreased by 26% to 838,200 ounces, in line with lower refined production. Platinum sales volumes decreased by 23% to 333,300 ounces and palladium sales volumes decreased by 12% to 235,800 ounces. The average realised basket price of $2,685/PGM ounce reflects a more normal level of ruthenium sales volumes compared to Q1 2021.
PGM sales volumes from trading increased 81% to 400,900 ounces.
2022 Guidance
Headwinds experienced in Q1 including excessive rainfall, resulting in a slower start to the year, as well as the ongoing effects of Covid-19 impacting supply chains, and the delivery of heaving mining equipment to site, has impacted the outlook for PGM production in 2022. The commitment to asset reliability and the planned maintenance at Polokwane smelter and Mogalakwena South Concentrator in Q3, means there is little ability to make up the shortfall in production in the year. In addition, third party purchase of concentrate receipts are expected to be lower than anticipated. As a result, we revise our metal-in-concentrate (M&C) guidance to 3.9 - 4.3 million PGM ounces (1) (previously 4.1–4.5 million ounces).
As a result of lower M&C production, we revise our refined production guidance to 4.0 - 4.4 million PGM ounces (previously 4.2 - 4.6 million ounces), subject to the potential impact of further Eskom load-shedding. Both are subject to the extent of further Covid-19 related disruption.
As a result of lower M&C production, as well as the impact of continuing high levels of input inflation, we revise our unit cost guidance to between R14,000 - R15,000 per PGM ounce, (previous guidance was R13,800 – R14,500 per PGM ounce), which incorporates a higher oil price of ~$100 /barrel.
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Sponsor:
Merrill Lynch South Africa (Pty) Ltd t/a BofA Securities