Baku, Azerbaijan, April 27
By Elena Kosolapova – Trend:
Kazakhstan-based mining company KAZ Minerals PLC produced 52,100 tons of copper in 1Q2017 compared to 22,700 tons in the same period of 2016 and 44,900 tons in 4Q2016, the company said in a message released April 27.
“Copper production increased by 16 percent to 52,100 tons from the prior quarter, driven by the successful commissioning of the Aktogay sulphide concentrator, which contributed 7,200 tons in 1Q2017, as well as the continuing ramp up of Bozshakol. The contributions from Bozshakol and Aktogay have resulted in a 130 percent increase in copper production versus the prior year period,” the company said.
Total ore extraction of 16.9 million tons in 1Q2017 represents an increase of 27 percent and 59 percent versus the previous quarter and prior year period respectively, providing feed to the Bozshakol and Aktogay processing plants.
Ore processed increased to 7.7 million tons compared to 5.97 million tons in the previous quarter and 1.52 million tons compared to 1Q2016 as the Bozshakol and Aktogay sulphide concentrators raised throughput.
Zinc in concentrate output reduced by 19 percent from 4Q2016 to 1Q2017 due to a temporarily lower zinc grade at Artemyevsky. Zinc in concentrate production declined by 22 percent compared to the prior year period, also due to the mine closure and a lower grade of zinc in ore processed at Orlovsky.
Gold production was stable at 42,500 ounces compared to 42,00 ounces koz in the previous quarter, as a 2,000 ounces increase in output from Bozshakol was offset by declining production from the East Region. The 27,300 ounces increase in contribution from Bozshakol led to significantly higher gold production compared to 1Q2016.
Silver output decreased by 23 percent to 757,000 ounces in 1Q2017 compared to the previous quarter mainly due to lower East Region grades, but increased by 7 percent compared to 1Q2016 as increased production from Bozshakol more than offset lower output in the East Region.
KAZ Minerals PLC is a high growth copper company focused on large scale, low cost, open pit mining in Kazakhstan. It operates three mines and three concentrators in the East Region of Kazakhstan, the Bozymchak copper-gold mine in Kyrgyzstan, the Bozshakol open pit copper mine in the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan and the Aktogay open pit copper mine in the East Region of Kazakhstan. In 2016, total copper cathode equivalent output was 140,000 tons with by-products of 75,000 tons of zinc in concentrate, 120,000 ounces of gold bar equivalent and 3.103 million ounces of silver bar equivalent.
