Operations Review (Part 1) - Anglo Platinum

Operations Review (continued)Overview: ProcessingSmelter OperationsS A F E T Y53Waterval Smelter achieved a lost-time injury rate that was among the best in theworld for smelting operations. A BBS initiative was implemented in the latter half ofthe year, encouraging all employees to adopt a positive attitudetowards safety and to ensure that co-workers perform theirduties safely.S M E L T I N GWaterval Smelter receives concentrate from the miningoperations, as well as furnace matte from the Union Sectionsmelter. These feed products are treated to produce a convertermatte amenable to further processing at the RBMR.The smelter performed well, with a record amount of bothconcentrate being treated and PGMs being passed to therefineries. The continued use of a third-party furnace enabledthe plant to return higher recoveries of metals while assisting inthe rejection of chrome from the circuit. The hiring of theadditional furnace will cease on commissioning of a new slagcleaningfurnace.The new converting plant was officially opened during thecourse of the year and is presently undergoing commissioning.The benefits in reduced emissions from the smelter aresignificant and the completion of the optimisation phase isexpected in early 2003.Hot commissioning of the slag-cleaning furnace is expected tostart in the first quarter of 2003. This unit will take over the roleof rejecting chrome from the various streams, while at the sametime improving operating efficiencies.Unit costs were contained within the inflation rate at the Smelteritself. While the hiring of the additional smelter addedR112,1 million to costs, causing the cash smelting, treatmentand refining cost per refined platinum ounce to rise by 19,1%,the increased production volumes generated by higher metalrecoveries contributed revenues which far outweighedthese costs.49Contractors nearing completionof a new furnace at WatervalSmelter.