South African Kumba Iron Ore is continuing development of the Kolomela Mine (formerly Sishen South) located near Postmasburg in the province of Northern Cape with delivery of initial production aimed at the first half of 2012, ramping up to a full capacity of 9 Mt/a in 2013, the Company revealed in its February 18 announced annual financial results for 2009.
Construction of the project is progressing well and mining operations commenced after the first blast on September 17, 2009. To date 4 Mt of ROM (Run-of-Mine) has been moved; project engineering is substantially complete; and significant progress has been made on manufacturing and construction. R3.2 billion of capital expenditure has been incurred to date, of which R2.5 billion has been disbursed during the year ended December 31, 2009.
Kumba Iron Ore's iron ore production in 2009 totaled 41.493 Mt; full-scale production (9 Mt/a) at Kolomela would position the Company to be a 50-Mt/a iron ore producer in South Africa. |
