Katanga Announces Second Quarter Results
August 07, 2009
LONDON, UK August 7, 2009 – Katanga Mining Limited (TSX – KAT) (“Katanga” or the “Company”) today announces its financial results for the calendar quarter and the six months ended June 30, 2009.
Highlights during and subsequent to the three months ended June 30, 2009
Operations and Project Summary for the quarter ended June 30, 2009
Underground (KTO)
During the quarter ended June 30, 2009, 255,129 tonnes of ore was mined with an average copper grade of 4.02% and cobalt grade of 0.51%. This represents a 32% increase on the previous quarter. The Company continues to use external consultants to evaluate the use of bulk mining methods to improve efficiency and safety and work with mine contractors to increase development, backfill and roof supports.
Open Pit (T17)
425,372 tonnes of ore was produced (a 106% increase from the previous quarter) with a copper grade of 1.29% and a cobalt grade of 0.83%, this is largely as a direct result of the mobilization of the mining fleet that took place in the first quarter.
Kamoto Concentrator
476,750 tonnes of ore was processed from both the underground and the open pit mines from which 46,447 tonnes of concentrate was produced, an increase from the first quarter due to the increase in underground and open pit extraction and commissioning of the CM3 mill in March. Refurbishment of CM1 and BM1 mills is continuing and remains on schedule.
Luilu Processing Plant
In the three months ended June 30, 2009 the Company achieved
production of 9,516 tonnes of copper cathode and 595 tonnes of
cobalt metal (a 9% and 22% increase on the previous quarter
production respectively) following the refurbishment of the leach
residue flotation system and improvements that are currently
underway to the design of the bus-bars.
Project Review
In May 2009, and according to schedule, the #2 residue belt filter was commissioned and brought into operation, as was the oxide re-pulp tank. In the same month, the vacuum pumps and Z2 thickener were also commissioned. In June 2009, the copper leach filter press and residue flotation tailings tank were commissioned.
Commissioning of the roaster will be moved back a month, due to a delay with the delivery of refractory supplies. Commissioning is now scheduled for September 2009. The additional phase 2 scope, including the refurbishment of the ferric removal system, the refurbishment of mills CM1 and BM1 and the installation of a fume extraction system in the copper leach house are expected to be on schedule.
Katanga’s Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis for the quarter are filed on SEDAR, www.sedar.com
For further information contact:
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Steven Isaacs |
Nick Brodie |
Anu Dhir |
About Katanga Mining Limited
Katanga Mining Limited operates a major mine complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo producing refined copper and cobalt. The company has the potential to become Africa’s largest copper producer and the world’s largest cobalt producer. Katanga is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KAT.
Forward-looking Information
This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Katanga. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will” or “will be taken”, “occur”, or “be achieved”. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Katanga to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to :risks relating to the refurbishment of existing facilities; unexpected events during construction, expansion and start-up; variations in ore grade, tonnes mined; future prices of copper and cobalt; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; political unrest and insurrection; acts of terrorism; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of development or construction activities, as well as those factors discussed herein or referred to in the current annual information form of the Company filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Although management of Katanga has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Katanga does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are incorporated herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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