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S.Africa's ARM pauses Bokoni mine growth plan after H1 earnings fall

African Rainbow Minerals (ARM). said on Friday it was deferring plans to broaden output. at its Bokoni mine due to low platinum group metal (PGM) prices. after reporting a 43% drop in its halfyear earnings.

The diversified South African miner's headline profits. decreased to 2.96 billion rand ($ 158.5 million) in the six months. to December 2023, from 5.17 billion rand formerly, as lower. thermal coal and PGM costs struck income.

ARM cut its interim dividend to 6 rand per share, from 14. rand per share previously.

The miner got the Bokoni mine in South Africa from. Anglo American Platinum and Atlatsa Resources. Corporation in 2022 as part of its strategies to broaden PGM output.

Bokoni mine, which had actually been put under care and maintenance. by its previous owners in 2017, resumed production in November. 2023, with plans to additional broaden output.

The sharp fall in PGM prices over the previous year,. mainly due to weaker need in China and an unpredictable worldwide. financial outlook, has actually forced South African miners, who account. for 70% of world output, to suspend tasks and cut expenses.

ARM said a bankable feasibility study for the phased. development of Bokoni, an essential action towards protecting funding, had. been delayed due to depressed product costs and uncertain. immediate outlook.

The company said the prices of palladium and rhodium fell. 42% and 70%, respectively, during the period under evaluation,. leading to a 40% decrease in the typical understood rand rate. for its set of PGMs.

ARM said its instant top priority is to conserve money while. increase production on a phased basis from the installed. capability of 60,000 metric lots of ore each month using existing. infrastructure.

(source: Reuters)