Zimplats quarterly output up 9pc

Zim Now Writer

A combination of improved milling, better grades and recovery resulted in a 9 percent quarterly increase in six-element metal in final product volumes, platinum producer Zimplats said.

The six elements the company produces are platinum, palladium, rhodium, gold, ruthenium and iridium. Platinum stands as the country’s second largest mineral export earner after gold.

Platinum and gold generate more than 50 percent of mineral exports between them, accounting for well over three-quarters of the country’s total shipments annually.

In its trading update for the quarter to June 30, 2023, Zimplats said metal volumes increased by 7 percent from the prior comparable quarter as the impact of higher milled throughput and the marginal improvement in process recoveries was offset by the decrease in 6E head grade.

Zimplats commissioned the third concentrator at Ngezi in September 2022 and increased milling capacity resulted in a 10 percent increase in milled throughput from the prior comparable quarter.

During the quarter under review, mined volumes increased by 4 percent from the prior comparable quarter which was negatively impacted by poor equipment availability at Mupfuti Mine.