The company said lower than average rainfall in the months of January and February 2012 optimized mining operations, however higher than average rainfall has affected the production in March 2012.
Production for the second quarter of 2012 is estimated to be about 210,000 tonnes and the targeted production for 2012 is approximately 850,000 tonnes, which is expected to be supported by continued strong demand from the Chinese market, and the company’s ability to respond to the changing market conditions during the year.
The company said its Masai deposit will meet the bulk of high grade manganese ore demand for the remainder of the 2012, while exploration at the Bootu Creek Mine and the neighborhood areas will begin around mid May 2012.
Bootu Creek Mine’s operating strategy for 2012 now includes a low cost, low strip ratio mine plan focused on accessing earlier pre-stripped high yielding ore utilizing a single mining fleet.
The strategy has changed due to the current increasing Chinese imported manganese ore demand environment including a near-record low benchmark price for high grade ore.
The company projects production of 63,000 tonnes of HCFeMn and 250,000 tonnes of manganese sinter ore in 2012.
