Anglo’s Kumba Iron Ore posts record production in Q3 2012

Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore operation in South Africa has reported record quarterly iron ore production of 12.5 million tonnes during July-September 2012, thanks to a fast ramp-up of the Kolomela mine.

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Production was 9% higher than in the April-June quarter, when output of 11.4 million tonnes was recorded. Output from Kolomela was 2.5 million tonnes, up by 44% from the previous quarter.

The Kolomela mine will reach full production capacity of 9 million tpy in 2013.

Output from the Sishen mine stood at 9.8 million tonnes, down by 7% on an annual basis, “as mining feedstock and quality constraints continued to affect plant throughput”, Anglo said.

The improvement plan had increased production slightly, however, by 300,000 tonnes from the previous quarter.

The first ore from Anglo’s Minas-Rio project in Brazil is expected to be produced in the second half of 2014, with capital expenditure for completion of the project at about $5.8 billion, the company said.