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(Kitco News) - South32 (ASX / LSE / JSE: S32) announced Tuesday that the company reported its first copper production since acquiring a stake in the Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile on 22 February 2022.
The company said that in March quarter 2022, it produced 3,653 koz of silver (March quarter 2021: 3,484 koz), 34.6 ktonnes of lead (2021: 33.0 ktonnes), 16.4 ktonnes of zinc (2021: 17.8 ktonnes), 10.7 ktonnes of nickel (2021: 7.1 ktonnes), 1,565 ktonnes of metallurgical coal (2021: 1,568 ktonnes), 1,206 kwmt of manganese ore (2021: 1,357 kwmt), 1,317 ktonnes of alumina (2021: 1,218 ktonnes), 243 ktonnes of aluminium (2021: 240 ktonnes), and 8.4 ktonnes of copper.
The company added that its Cannington zinc mine in Australia delivered a 6% increase in year to date zinc equivalent production, benefitting from higher planned silver grades and a drawdown in run of mine inventory.
Cerro Matoso achieved a 33% increase in year to date nickel production, due to higher grades from the Q&P pit and the prior period's successful furnace refurbishment.
Illawarra Metallurgical Coal realized a 42% increase in quarterly production, despite the ongoing impact of wet weather and disruptions to labor availability caused by COVID-19.
Manganese production declined by 4% in the quarter with a 1% improvement at Australia Manganese, more than offset by the impact of planned maintenance at both of our South African mines.
Importantly, the company noted that it completed a pre-feasibility study for the zinc-lead-silver Taylor deposit at the Hermosa project during the quarter, underlining its potential to be a globally significant and sustainable producer of base and precious metals in the industry's first cost quartile.
CEO Graham Kerr added, "Our FY22 production guidance remains unchanged, and we achieved another excellent operating result, delivering to plan while capitalizing on historically strong end markets for many of our commodities."
South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company producing bauxite, alumina, aluminium, energy and metallurgical coal, manganese, nickel, silver, lead, copper and zinc in Australia, Southern Africa and South America.
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